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Am J Perinatol 2026; 43(01): 032-042
DOI: 10.1055/a-2586-3520
Original Article

Neonatal Outreach Training: Identifying Needs in the Community

Authors

  • Michael Andrew Assaad

    1   Division of Neonatology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    2   Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    3   CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

  • Yasmine Khouzam

    2   Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to identify the neonatal training needs of levels I and II community health centers (CHCs).

Study Design

We conducted a mixed-methods study involving a questionnaire, focus groups (FG), and an audit of neonatal transport data. The questionnaire assessed the felt needs of CHC staff, FGs identified normative needs with an expert neonatal transport team, and the audit captured expressed needs using data from the Canadian neonatal transport network.

Results

A total of 158 respondents from 12 CHCs completed the questionnaire (98% completeness rate). Key findings indicated significant challenges in human resources, procedural training, management of critical situations including neonatal resuscitation, nutrition, and neurodevelopmental care (NDC), and crisis resource management. Simulation emerged as the preferred training modality. FGs (three sessions, 17 participants) emphasized the importance of regular, multidisciplinary simulation-based training and stress management. The audit (947 means of transport, 2017–2020) revealed frequent respiratory, neurological, and surgical diagnoses, reinforcing the need for advanced training in respiratory support, neonatal resuscitation, and select high-acuity-specific pathologies.

Conclusion

Targeted outreach education is essential to address the identified training needs in neonatal care at CHCs. Key components should include simulation-based training, comprehensive procedural modules, and specialized modules on extreme prematurity, pneumothorax, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy/seizures, and surgical conditions. Enhanced training in nutrition and NDC is also critical for community health practitioners.

Key Points

  • CHC lack neonatal care training.

  • In situ simulation training is the preferred modality of CHC.

  • Key training gaps include resuscitation and ventilation.

  • Crisis resource management and stress management are key team training components.

  • Training must cover prematurity, respiratory, neurological, and surgical conditions.

Keywords

community health centers - focus groups - neonatal transport data - NRP - hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy - outreach

Authors' Contributions

M.A.A.: Conceptualization, methodology, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, project administration, resources, supervision, validation, visualization, writing—original draft preparation and review and editing.


Y.K.: Data curation and writing—review and editing.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 12 February 2025

Accepted: 13 April 2025

Article published online:
08 May 2025

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