The Effect of E-learning Education on Primipar Women’s Knowledge about Neonatal Care

Introduction E-learning is there to enhance knowledge of patients and  can provide an efficient way to enhance personnel-patient interaction and provide patient-specific education. So the aim of this study was to Compare the effect of two educational methods, e-learning (multimedia) and painted booklet on Primipar Women’s Knowledge about neonatal care.Methods This was a quasi-experimental study based on pre- and post- tests that were carried out on 100 primipar women in Isfahan during the years 2012-2013. Participants were divided into two groups of e-learning or painted booklet learning, randomly. Participants’ knowledge scores were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire. SPSS version 11.5 was used to conduct statistical tests such as independent t-test and paired t-test for analyzing the data. The significance level was considered less than 0.05. Results Before training, the mean score of knowledge of the e-learning education group was 5.4±1.2 and 5.5±1.2 for the painted booklet group; the difference between mean scores was not significant. At the end of the study, this score was 9.54±1.1 for the e-learning group and 6.5±1.2 for the painted booklet group and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.01). Also increase in the rate of knowledge in the  e-learning group and the painted booklet group was 56% and 30%, respectively.  Conclusion This study showed that passing the e-learning training course could better improve knowledge  of mothers about neonatal care  than the painted booklet. So, different aspects of e-learning, including computer literacy, infrastructure of telecommunications should be revisited.