The effect of live and web-based education on the accuracy of blood-loss estimation in simulated obstetric scenarios.
OBJECTIVE
Visual estimation of blood loss has been shown to be inaccurate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a didactic training program on the accuracy of the estimation of blood loss and to compare the effectiveness of training provided by a web-based vs live session.


METHODS
Multidisciplinary labor and delivery unit personnel participated in live or web-based training. Both sessions comprised a 5-station pretest and posttest. The primary outcome was the accuracy of estimated blood loss in the pretest compared with the posttest with the use of the Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
Among 372 providers, the median improvement between pre- and posttest results was 34% (95% confidence interval, 10-57%; P < .001). This improvement did not differ significantly between the live sessions and web-based sessions (4%; 95% confidence interval, -10% to 12%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study supports the use of live or web-based training to improve blood loss estimation accuracy.
Toledo
Paloma
P
Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
McCarthy
Robert J
RJ
Burke
Carol A
CA
Goetz
Kristopher
K
Wong
Cynthia A
CA
Grobman
William A
WA
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000193:education; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy