Abstract
Emergency Medical technicians (EMT) are often the first medical personnel to care for a neonate born outside the hospital setting, but EMTs currently receive little training in the initial care of the neonate and report feeling unprepared to care for this population. To bridge the gaps in knowledge and confidence in neonatal care among EMTs, a specialized curriculum focusing on initial neonatal care after delivery was developed, implemented, and evaluated. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, participants were asked to self-evaluate their present confidence, in multiple subjects, relating to post-delivery care of the neonate prior to the program, immediately after the program, and at two-months follow up. Participants were also asked to complete a multiple-choice knowledge check evaluating background knowledge of the subject matter prior to the program and at two months follow up. Prior to the program, participants ranked themselves as “slightly confident” (2-2.99) or “somewhat confident” (3-3.99) in each subject area survey; with an improvement in self-reported confidence to mostly confident (4-4.99) or “completely confident” (5-5.99) immediately after the program. This improvement was sustained at two-months follow up in most subject areas. Additionally, knowledge of subject matter improved from a baseline score of 83% on the pre-intervention knowledge check to 94% on the knowledge check at two-months follow up. Development of a targeted training program for EMTs in neonatal care improved confidence and knowledge on the subject; therefore, improving likelihood of positive outcomes in future neonates born outside the hospital and cared for by EMTs.