Clinical skills training in obstetrics – a descriptive survey of current practice in Denmark

Abstract

The Danish National Board of Health has recommended that labor wards establish regular obstetric emergency skills training programs. The aim of this study was to describe current practice in Denmark. A questionnaire was sent to all obstetric departments in Denmark in 2008. All responded. Simulation-based training was conducted in 26/28 obstetrical departments. Settings for the training programs were mainly local. Training was provided for shoulder dystocia, postpartum bleeding and basic neonatal resuscitation in almost all the departments, but was not organized in a uniform way. Neither the program itself nor the participants' performance was evaluated in a structured or validated way. Obstetric emergency skills training is being actively conducted in the majority of the Danish labor wards. However, it still remains a challenge to ensure the uniform organization and evaluation of the current training programs. Development of validated national or international standards for an obstetric training program should be a future aim.

Vacuum extraction: development and test of a procedure‐specific rating scale

“…Nonetheless, a valid performance assessment instrument is the first step towards developing a simulation-based training program in vacuum extraction. In a descriptive survey we found previously that most departments are performing simulation-based skills training in obstetric emergencies, but standardization of the training programs and assessment are still lacking to back this up (27).…”

Blame and guilt – a mixed methods study of obstetricians' and midwives' experiences and existential considerations after involvement in traumatic childbirth

“…These individuals are sometimes referred to as "second victims", and although far from all events that can be easily distinguished in "error" or "non-error", the HCPs often feel personally responsible for the adverse patient healthcare to replace the blame culture with a just culture promoting disclosure and learning in the aftermath of an adverse event (1,7,10,11). This new culture has been promoted in obstetrics and midwifery, where human as well as systemic error are corrected in different ways, such as perinatal audits, obstetric skills training or debriefings to improve procedures and prevent future incidents (12,13). However, these measures occur at an organizational level and in the aftermath of a traumatic childbirth, the primary focus is on the patient and less on the HCP (14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

Unannounced in situ simulation of obstetric emergencies: staff perceptions and organisational impact

“…In recent years, many wards have implemented simulation-based medical training. Health authorities such as the National Board of Health in Denmark and the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts in Britain currently require all labour ward staff to participate in annual skill drills 3 10. Little is published on optimal training content, preferred educational and learning strategies or the optimal physical setting for simulation-based training 7 11…”