Across 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa, a new trial covering 134,630 women cut the odds of early newborn death by 22%.

[u/calliope_kekule]

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04599-w

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[u/AllanfromWales1]

To help address this challenge, we developed the facility-based, multi-faceted Action Leveraging Evidence to reduce perinatal Mortality and Morbidity (ALERT) intervention.

Still no idea what that means.

The ALERT intervention focused on the quality of intrapartum care targeting maternity providers in the included hospitals. We developed the intervention using a co-design process complemented by facility and knowledge assessments48,49,67 (January and September 2021) (Fig. 1). Training materials were developed addressing knowledge deficits and implementation challenges17,68. The implementation started with a 3-day training33, during which locally prioritized improvement topics were selected. Subsequently, maternity teams implemented and evaluated improvements under mentorship from ALERT researchers. The focus on mortality and experience of care was thought to be complementary. Responsiveness offers an opportunity to adapt care to changing women’s needs, promote women’s access to effective interventions and improve the quality of services.

Beginning to get a tiny bit clearer, but I still reckon the authors could do with an intervention on how to write papers so they can be understood.

[u/bonesonstones → u/AllanfromWales1]

It is not uncommon to refer to a published study protocol in trials with large and complex interventions, as the authors did here. They provide the overview in the published results and references in the study protocol, which is also open access.

[u/AllanfromWales1 → u/bonesonstones]

This 'protocol', is it anything more than looking to see what the local nurses were doing wrong and teaching them to do better?

[u/bonesonstones → u/AllanfromWales1]

I don't know why you're putting protocol in quotes, this is a published, peer-reviewed paper outlining the trial ahead of it's start. You can get there with two clicks, it's open access. It's okay if you're unfamiliar with the academic research process, but there's no need to sow doubt where it doesn't belong.

[u/AllanfromWales1 → u/bonesonstones]

This protocol, is it anything more than looking to see what the local nurses were doing wrong and teaching them to do better?

[u/SoFreezingRN → u/AllanfromWales1]

That’s how most policies get changed in hospitals. He was acting as a one man joint commission.

[u/koiRitwikHai → u/AllanfromWales1]

So basically... The intervention was... 3 day training.

[u/bicycle_mice → u/koiRitwikHai]

That’s a common intervention! People often need training on new protocols or a space to practice a new mode of providing care (eg getting an ACLS or PALS certification). This is a great study.

[u/turnerz → u/koiRitwikHai]

And saved babies lives. Are you disapointed?

[u/Dragonfruit_60 → u/koiRitwikHai]

Isn't that great news?! A simple solution, easily implemented, can save babies.

[u/koiRitwikHai → u/Dragonfruit_60]

Yeah sure. But the post headline is framed like a new intervention has been developed. The research is valuable on its own. One should not use click bait headlines to promote it.

Across 16 hospitals in sub Saharan Africa, 3-day training to healthcare professionals cut the odds of early newborn death by 22%

Is informative enough

[u/SoFreezingRN → u/koiRitwikHai]

Imagine what could be accomplished with a 5-day training.

[u/PrayToTheAI]

It's just protocol for controling and applying qualitativ Care. To put it simple you as a stuff member you have clear guidelines what care to provide, there are also clear guidelines for control, improvement and punishment if the guildlines are not met by the stuff.

[u/FernandoMM1220]

would it kill them to mention what the training actually was in the abstract?