Supporting health professionals in delivering evidence-based safe sleeping recommendations: effectiveness and sustainability of a Safe Infant Sleeping E-learning program

Introduction. Sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) remain one of the leading causes of infant mortality in Australia. Health professionals caring for families with young infants have a key role in supporting parents to use safe sleeping recommendations demonstrated to reduce infant death. This study has evaluated the sustainability and effectiveness of an evidence-based e-learning program in positively impacting health professional knowledge and knowledge application relating to SUDI and safe sleeping recommendations. Methods. A pre-test/post-test design evaluated knowledge and knowledge application in a sample of health professionals completing the Safe Infant Sleeping E-learning program. The three-module program covers key content related to international and Australian perspectives on sudden unexpected infant death, risk factors associated with SUDI, evidence underpinning Australian public health recommendations related to safe infant sleeping, and strategies for parents and health professionals to improve uptake and utilisation of safe infant sleeping messages. The program contained interactive audio and visual components to reinforce learning objectives. The program has an in-built evaluation to benchmark prior knowledge, and post-module quizzes to complete following each module. Participant test scores were calculated, including a mean post-test score. Pre-test-post-test changes were analysed using paired t-tests; sample subsets were compared using independent t-tests. Results. The program was officially launched in June 2010. During the first 20 months in operation (June 2010–March 2012) the program has attracted 4600 registrations with 1949 participants completing the program. Although the program has targeted Queensland health professionals (n=1913 completed participants) it has attracted attention from other states and territories (n=23) and overseas (n=13). Participants completing the program have been predominantly nurses and midwives (n=1794) however includes participants identifying as allied health, medical, student, parent, child health worker, Indigenous Health worker and SIDS and Kids employees. Pretest results (n=1949) identified deficits in knowledge and application to risk factor assessment and evidence-based parent advice [mean pretest score 69.5%(±SD13.3]. Similar scores were achieved post-test for each of the learning modules indicating consistency in delivery across content (Post test scores of 87%, 86% and 88% for Modules 1, 2 and 3 respectively). Nurses and midwives had a higher mean pretest score [69.9%(±SD12.9)] compared to other health professionals [64.6%(±SD15.3), p less than 0.0001]. Participant scores significantly increased posttest [pretest 69.5% Vs post-test average 87%,p less than 0.0001). Public sector staff were significantly higher pretest than private sector (69.9% vs 64%,p less than 0.0001), however post-test scores were similar (86.7%vs87.4%,p=0.2). Post-test mean scores for nurses and midwives compared with other health professionals were also similar (87% Vs 87%,p=0.5). Discussion. This innovative e-learning program has been sustainable over a 20-month period and has been effective in significantly improving relevant knowledge and knowledge application relating to safe sleeping public health recommendations for health professionals who care for families with young infants. The program has been endorsed by key professional organisations and underpins state policy in Queensland. Consistent delivery of evidencebased information relating to safe sleeping will support midwives in their key role as parent educators about public health initiatives that promote infant health and reduce mortality