Authors (including presenting author) :
NG SM(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong
Keyword 1: :
Neonatal Resuscitation Drills
Introduction :
Effective neonatal resuscitation is vital for improving outcomes in newborns experiencing distress at birth. While most infants transition successfully without intervention, fewer than 1% require extensive resuscitation. Because the need cannot always be anticipated, it may arise in diverse settings—including the delivery suite, postnatal ward, or antenatal areas. Consequently, midwives in the obstetrics unit must be adequately trained and prepared to perform timely and effective neonatal resuscitation. Regular resuscitation drills play a critical role in reinforcing skills, enhancing competence, and ensuring best practices that contribute to improved neonatal outcomes. In 2024, a neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) was initiated in collaboration with pediatric specialists to provide structured, ongoing training for both midwives and pediatric doctors. This program aims to strengthen clinical skills and knowledge while fostering effective communication and teamwork, ensuring healthcare providers are well-prepared to respond to advanced neonatal resuscitation.
Objectives :
• Strengthen midwives’ competence and communication skills in neonatal resuscitation. • Enhance compliance with the NRP algorithm in every resuscitation event. • Identify performance gaps to drive continuous quality improvement
Methodology :
• Four neonatal resuscitation drills were conducted annually since 2024, rotating across antenatal, delivery suite, postnatal, and private maternity wards. • Tailored scenarios reflected ward-specific contexts, e.g., sudden preterm delivery in the antenatal ward, neonatal cyanosis and collapse after formula feeding, and a baby born without heart rate due to abruptio placenta in the delivery suite. • A self-designed NRP checklist, guided by the NRP algorithm, was used to assess compliance and performance. • Each drill was jointly facilitated by a pediatrician, a pediatric NRP instructor, and an obstetrics instructor. • Comprehensive debriefings followed each drill, enabling participants to identify strengths and weaknesses, supporting skill improvement and better clinical outcomes.
Result & Outcome :
• A total of six NRP drills were conducted across obstetrics wards. • Overall compliance exceeded 80% in most wards, except the antenatal ward (67.5%). • Labor ward compliance improved significantly from 80.5% to 92.7%. • Performance gaps in antenatal wards highlighted the need for targeted training on equipment use, knowledge reinforcement, and skill development. • Regular drills improved midwives’ competence, confidence, and adherence to the NRP algorithm. • Interdisciplinary collaboration between pediatric and obstetric teams strengthened communication, supported knowledge transfer, and sustained good practice. • Structured drills and collaborative training enhanced preparedness and improved neonatal outcomes.
