Abstract:
This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of an experimental distance learning
programme in a group of midwives in comparison with that of a in-service training
programme held in the form of a workshop. The study group was selected from the
midwives attached to peripheral medical institutions (from district hospital downward) of
the deputy provincial director of health service area, Kalutara, while the control group was
selected from the same type of institutions of the Kurunegala district.Pre-test and post-test
marks, before and after the intervention were analyzed using student test and the paired
student test. The analysis revealed that the base level knowledge of institutional midwives in
both group was low and therefore there is the need for continuing education and both
workshop method and distance learning method were equally effective in improving their
knowledge significantly
