On-site clinical mentoring as a maternal and new-born care quality improvement method: evidence from a nurse cohort study in Nepal

BACKGROUND: We describe an on-site clinical mentoring program aimed at improving emergency obstetrical and new-born care (EmONC) in Nepal and assess its effectiveness on nurses’ knowledge and skills. In Nepal, both the maternal mortality ratio (MMR, 239/100,000 live births) and the neonatal mortality rate (NMR, 21/1000 live births) were among the highest in the world in 2016, despite impressive progress over recent decades considering the challenging environment. METHODS: From September 2016 to April 2018, three experienced nurses conducted repeated mentoring visits in 61 comprehensive or basic EmONC centers and birthing centers located in 4 provinces of Nepal. Using updated national training manuals and teaching aids, these clinical mentors assessed and taught 12 core EmONC clinical skills to their nurse-mentees. Clinical mentors worked with management mentors whose goal was to improve the nurses’ working environment. We assessed whether the cohort of nurse-mentees performed better as a group and individually performed better at the end of the program than at baseline using relevant tests (chi-square test, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, and Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-population rank test). RESULTS: In total, 308 nurses were assessed, including 96 (31.2%), 77 (25.0%) and 135 (43.8%) who participated in all three, two or only one mentoring session, respectively. In total, 225 (73.0%) worked as auxiliary nurse-midwives (ANMs), while 69 (22.4%) worked as nurses. One hundred and ninety five (63.3%) were trained as skilled birth attendants, of which 45 (23.1%) were nurses, 141 (72.3%) were auxiliaries and 9 (4.6%) had other positions. The proportion of ANMs and nurse-mentees who obtained a knowledge assessment score ≥ 85% increased from 57.8 to 86.1% (p < 0.001). Clinical assessment scores increased significantly for each participant, and therefore for the group. SBA-trained mentees had better knowledge of maternal and new-born care and were better able to perform the 12 core clinical skills throughout the program. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that on-site clinical mentoring of nurses coupled with health facility management mentoring can improve nurses’ clinical competences in and performance of maternity and new-born care. Assessing evidence of impact on patient safety would be the next stage in evaluating this promising intervention.