Key result
Non-physician anaesthetists show deficiencies in communication, assessment, and anticipating complications.
Why the study?
Sub-Saharan Africa faces high rates of maternal mortality with an urgent need for reduction, where shortfalls in access to safe surgery and anaesthetic care cause avoidable maternal deaths.
What are the deficiencies in anaesthesia practices for Caesarean section among non-physician anaesthesia providers in an Ethiopian referral hospital?
Observational (n=67)
No
What are the deficiencies in anaesthesia practices for Caesarean section among non-physician anaesthesia providers in an Ethiopian referral hospital?
Identifying deficiencies in communication and anticipation of complications among non-physician anaesthesia providers can help target training to improve maternal safety during Caesarean sections in resource-limited settings.
Deficiencies may increase maternal risk in C-sections; leaves open whether targeted training improves non-physician performance in similar settings.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces high rates of maternal mortality and there is an urgent need to reduce this. Shortfalls in access to safe surgery and anaesthetic care result in avoidable maternal death. Providing quality training to anaesthesia providers is of key importance to reduce mortality. This mixed-methods prospective study incorporated workplace observations of anaesthesia for Caesarean section, a paper-based questionnaire and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital in Ethiopia. A total of 67 Caesarean section cases under spinal anaesthesia provided by 12 non-physician anaesthetists were observed and a 92% ( n = 11) response rate to questionnaires obtained. Deficiencies were observed in communication, pre-operative assessment, spinal height evaluation and application of lateral tilt, while interviews revealed anaesthesia provider perceptions of hierarchy within the surgical team and deficiency in anticipation of potential complications. This study suggests that focusing on communication and anticipation of complications could aid providers in preventing and preparing for complications.
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White et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Caesarean section (n=67). Anaesthesia practices by non-physician providers was evaluated on Deficiencies in anaesthesia practices and provider perceptions. Workplace observations of 67 Caesarean sections by 12 non-physician anaesthetists in Ethiopia revealed deficiencies in communication, pre-operative assessment, and anticipation of complications.
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