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

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 patientspecific 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.