Impact of Continued Social Network-based Learning Based on Midwives Knowledge and Implementation of the Helping Babies Breathe Program

BACKGROUND: The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program is a simple neonatal resuscitation protocol implemented in low-resource clinical systems. Therefore, it is necessary to train midwives on the implementation of this program and ensure the sustainability of the learned materials. The present study aimed to assess the impact of continued social network-based learning based on midwives knowledge and implementation of the HBB program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled field trial was performed on 50 midwives who were selected by the available sampling method. All midwives attended the HBB workshop; thereafter, in the intervention group, the learned materials were reinforced for 3 months using WhatsApp messenger. Data were collected using Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which was administered before the HBB program and 3 months later (HBB guide; 2(th) Ed, 2018). The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 19) using independent and paired t-tests. RESULTS: Based on the results, the mean knowledge score was not significantly different in both groups (control and intervention) immediately after the workshop. The mean scores of knowledge and skill variations did not decrease significantly in the WhatsApp group during the 3 months; nonetheless, a marked decrease was observed in the control group (t(21) = 16.68, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study pointed out that continued social network-based education promoted the knowledge and skills of health care providers, highlighting the importance of social networks in education.