Helping Babies Breathe-A Comparative Analysis of Virtual and Traditional Mentored Train-the-Trainer Courses: A Pilot Program for Physician Assistants in Liberia

Neonatal mortality remains a significant challenge in Liberia, necessitating targeted efforts to improve the quality of newborn resuscitation. The focal goal is a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing neonatal survival through the resource-constrained Physician Assistant (PA) educational programs in Liberia to address gaps in knowledge and skills among healthcare providers. The intervention seeks to empower Liberian PA and PA students with the essential competencies required to effectively manage newborns in distress and recognize signs and symptoms of asphyxia, the leading cause of death and brain injury, during the critical moments following birth. Liberia's healthcare system faces unique challenges, including limited resources and a shortage of skilled personnel. The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) Liberian initiative aims to maximize the impact on reducing neonatal mortality rates within these resource constrained environments. The proposed program integrates HBB instructional strategies, hands-on simulations, and critical thinking in the traditional methods and two experimental methods - virtual instruction and in-person mentoring - to determine the feasibility, effectiveness, and impact of alternative methods with the use of innovative educational technologies to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. The project found no statistical difference between the traditional in-person and virtual in respect to written tests, critical thinking, and OSCE performance. A newly discovered gap in instructional capability was found equally in both groups. Thus, an ad hoc mentorship curriculum was developed to improve the instructors' ability to communicate the needed information for an effective transfer of knowledge needed for a train-the-trainer program. The development of the mentored curriculum also emphasizes the collaboration between international health organizations, local healthcare institutions, and governmental bodies to ensure the sustainability of the training program. Moreover, it highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and context-specific adaptation of educational materials to align with the diverse healthcare landscape of Liberia. This project was designed to improve the accessibility of the HBB curriculum in austere areas. The impact can significantly improve neonatal outcomes in Liberia, fostering a generation of Liberian PA students equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide timely and effective resuscitation interventions through collaboration with their international counterparts. Through this targeted educational approach, the project envisions a future where asphyxia recognition and management are a routine and standardized practice during delivery, ultimately leading to a substantial reduction in neonatal mortality rates across the country.