title: Emergency obstetrics knowledge and practical skills retention among medical students in Rwanda following a short training course.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe rates of improved knowledge following a structured 2-day emergency obstetrics training course.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative assessments to evaluate emergency obstetrics knowledge and practical skills were administered before, immediately after, and 3-9 months following the training course for 65 final-year medical students at the National University of Rwanda. A survey was administered during the final assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 52 (80.0%) students demonstrated knowledge improvement after training. Fifty-seven (87.7%) students improved or maintained their scores from the post-training written test to the final assessment, and 32 (49.2%) retained practical skills. Twenty-one (32.3%) of the class demonstrated competency in both written and practical skills. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, female gender was associated with overall competency (P=0.01), and use of the internet for academic purposes more than 3-5 times per week tended toward competency (P=0.11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 2-day emergency obstetrics training course increased knowledge among medical students. Because educational policies are tailored to address high rates of maternal mortality in resource-poor settings, workshops dedicated to emergency obstetrics should be promoted.
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Medicine, Durham 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Nazaneen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Homaifar
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mwesigye
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tchwenko
authors.forename: Ayaba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Worjoloh
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joharifard
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyamanywa
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rulisa
authors.forename: Nathan M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Thielman
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012432:Rwanda; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*