The effect of Mobile-based and Lecture-Based training methods on Midwives' knowledge regarding Management of Pre-Eclampsia/ Eclampsia

Background & aim: Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy hypertensive disorder which is associated with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. One of the ways to reduce the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy and childbirth is training midwives regarding its management. We aimed to compare the effects of mobile-based and lecture-based training methods on midwives' knowledge regarding management of pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia in 2017. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 70 midwives working in Lar, Iran, in 2017. The patients who met the inclusion criteria and provided informed consent were included in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to two educational groups of lecture-based and mobile-based education. To measure knowledge a questionnaire was completed before the intervention, one week and one month after the intervention by the participants. To analyze the data, independent t-test for inter-group comparison and paired t-test for intra-group comparison were run in SPSS. Results: No significant differences was seen between the two groups before the intervention, while one week and one month after the intervention, the knowlege scores were significantly different (P=0.001). The results of paired t-test in both groups showed significant changes at the end of the study. Results were significant in both groups, but according to the mean score of knowledge before and after the intervention, the mobile-based had a greater score than lecture-based training group. Conclusion: Both mobile-based and lecture-based training methods increased the awareness of midwives regarding the management of preeclampsia and eclampsia, but the highest increase in knowledge was seen in mobile-based training group.. Thus, the implementation of midwifery training programs using mobile applications can increase midwives’ awareness concerning the management of midwifery emergency services.