A Randomized Controlled Simulation Trial of a Neonatal Resuscitation Digital Game Simulator for Labour and Delivery Room Staff
RETAIN Digital Game Simulator: A New Approach to Neonatal Resuscitation Training for Healthcare Providers
Background: Healthcare providers (HCPs) working in labor and delivery rooms are required to maintain their neonatal resuscitation skills through regular refresher courses. These skills, vital in ensuring the health and safety of newborns, are known to decline over time without consistent practice. However, HCPs often face challenges in accessing refresher programs due to irregular work schedules and time constraints. RETAIN, a digital game simulating delivery room scenarios, was developed to address these issues, providing a flexible and interactive tool for neonatal resuscitation training.
Objective: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether participants enjoyed the RETAIN digital game simulator and whether it was as effective as traditional video lectures at refreshing and maintaining neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills among healthcare providers.
Methods: In a randomized controlled simulation trial, 42 labor and delivery room HCPs participated. To assess their baseline knowledge, all participants took a pre-test using a neonatal resuscitation manikin. Following this, participants were randomly divided into two groups:
Control group: Watched a 20–30 minute neonatal resuscitation lecture video.
Treatment group: Played the RETAIN digital game simulator, which presented a series of neonatal resuscitation scenarios.
After the interventions, participants were administered the same post-test. Those in the treatment group also completed a survey measuring their enjoyment and attitudes toward the RETAIN simulator. Two months later, all participants took a follow-up test identical to the pre- and post-tests to measure knowledge retention.
Results: For the primary outcome (neonatal resuscitation performance), the study revealed the following:
Participants in both groups improved significantly immediately after the intervention.
Over time, there was a decline in performance, but the pattern was consistent across both groups, indicating no significant differences in performance improvement between the RETAIN digital game and the traditional video lecture.
For the secondary outcome (attitudes toward RETAIN), participants who used the simulator reported positive feedback, highlighting their enjoyment of the digital game. The interactive nature of the game made the training experience engaging and dynamic.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that healthcare providers in both the RETAIN digital game group and the video lecture group experienced similar improvements in neonatal resuscitation performance immediately after training. There were no significant differences in performance between the two interventions, suggesting that RETAIN offers a comparable, if not more engaging, alternative to traditional training methods. Importantly, HCPs enjoyed using the RETAIN game simulator, making it a promising tool for flexible, on-the-go neonatal resuscitation training.
As a result, the RETAIN simulator may be a valuable addition to training programs, particularly for HCPs with demanding and unpredictable schedules, providing an effective and enjoyable way to refresh essential neonatal resuscitation skills.
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