Modified Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics course: Feasibility, trainee satisfaction, and sustainability potential

Objective: The main objective of this initiative was to present evaluation results from an innovative adaptation of the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) training course. We modified the traditional ALSO curriculum in our institution by adding hands-on training in laceration repairs and simulation scenarios on acute maternity care.

Methods: The modified ALSO provider course was designed to enhance cognitive and procedural skills of health care professionals in managing obstetric emergencies. Forty-nine participants attended this course and completed a posttraining survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participant-reported assessment scores for the ALSO course on three domains (subject knowledge, organization and clarity, and teaching effectiveness) for each of 12 course topics.

Results: Evaluation of the results showed a high rate of trainee satisfaction as evidenced by the mean assessment scores across all topics ranging from 4.80 to 4.98 (out of 5.00). All trainees said they would refer others to the course. Our modified ALSO course effectively addressed the important needs of primary care physicians involved in maternity care, especially in underserved communities where specialized obstetric care is not readily available. Both simulation scenarios and workshops using simulated human tissue provide a better foundation before formal training.

Conclusion: Given the changing legal and regulatory climate, we expect that learning to treat complex obstetric situations on the job will become increasingly risky. With this in mind, both simulation scenarios and workshops using simulated human tissue will provide a better foundation before formal training.