The PartoPen in Training and Clinical Use - Two Preliminary Studies in Kenya

Heather Underwood, S. Revi Sterling, John K. Bennett

2013

Abstract

This paper presents the findings from two studies of the PartoPen system – a digital pen software application that enhances the partograph, a paper-based labor-monitoring tool used extensively in developing regions. The PartoPen provides nurses with real-time decision support, instructions, and patient-specific reminders by playing short audio clips when a nurse records data on the existing paper partograph form. Previous studies have shown that correct use of the partograph significantly reduces pregnancy complications; however, the partograph is not always reliably or correctly completed due to resource and training challenges commonly found in developing world clinics. The PartoPen system addresses several significant barriers to correct partograph use in developing countries. The preliminary studies described in this paper examine how the PartoPen system affects classroom-based partograph training among nursing students at the University of Nairobi, and partograph completion and accuracy in actual labor and delivery situations by nurse-midwives at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. The initial results of these studies indicate that using the PartoPen system enhances student performance on partograph worksheets, and that use of the PartoPen system in labor wards positively affects partograph completion rates and nurses’ level of expertise using the partograph form.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Underwood H., Sterling S. and K. Bennett J. (2013). The PartoPen in Training and Clinical Use - Two Preliminary Studies in Kenya . In Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics - Volume 1: HEALTHINF, (BIOSTEC 2013) ISBN 978-989-8565-37-2, pages 112-121. DOI: 10.5220/0004251101120121

in Bibtex Style

@conference{healthinf13,
author={Heather Underwood and S. Revi Sterling and John K. Bennett},
title={The PartoPen in Training and Clinical Use - Two Preliminary Studies in Kenya},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics - Volume 1: HEALTHINF, (BIOSTEC 2013)},
year={2013},
pages={112-121},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004251101120121},
isbn={978-989-8565-37-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics - Volume 1: HEALTHINF, (BIOSTEC 2013)
TI - The PartoPen in Training and Clinical Use - Two Preliminary Studies in Kenya
SN - 978-989-8565-37-2
AU - Underwood H.
AU - Sterling S.
AU - K. Bennett J.
PY - 2013
SP - 112
EP - 121
DO - 10.5220/0004251101120121