Effective Virtual Antenatal Education – a rapid multidisciplinary, collaborative response to a pandemic. E Durkin, T Barry, T Mc Creery, M Fanagan, E O Brien, G Flannelly Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NMH
BACKGROUND Antenatal education classes facilitate learning for women and partners and promote a positive birth and parenting experience. The cancellation of face-to-face classes due to Covid-19 prompted the need for change.
AIMS A multidisciplinary digital learning team was formed to deliver an e-learning solution to support blended antenatal education using effective teaching methodologies.
METHODS A team based process (carpe diem) was used to design the content for multimedia modules covering antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods. These were developed by the team and embedded into an eLearning hub on the hospital website. Simultaneously, a programme of interactive live virtual classes was produced. A feedback mechanism via an electronic evaluation tool contributes to quality improvement.
What women thought about the Elearning modules • 95% of women find the online modules informative and an effective learning method. • They were asked to describe their assessment in their own words and a word cloud of the responses is included below
What women thought about the virtual classes
Impact on attendance at classes
• 95% of women find the online classes engaging and reassuring and an excellent substitute for face-to-face classes. • Again, they were asked to describe their assessment in their own words and a word cloud of the responses is included below
• Comparing 2019 and 2020 we found the attendance to have significantly increased, suggesting that situational factors such as distance, accessibility, location, class volume are no longer barriers to attending classes. Numbers of women attending classes April to October 2019
2020
1589 1112 267
Primips
315
Multips
• This design has become a significant educational tool for both teachers and learners at the NMH.
CONCLUSIONS • The unprecedented effects of Covid-19 have provided opportunities for innovation and changed approaches to education. • This initiative has increased women’s access to antenatal information, making the service more equitable, flexible and responsive to needs.