Objectives: To study the effectiveness of a teaching program on assisted reproductive technology in Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery (DNM) students through a structured knowledge questionnaire measured by gain in knowledge scores in posttest evaluation. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on a total of 55 students in city school of nursing in 2011 in Mangalore, India. A set of questions based on the basic knowledge on Artificial Reproductive Technology was given to each student. This was followed by the teaching program on Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART). The students were evaluated on the basis of the scores attained by them in the pretest and posttestquestionnaire. Results were noted and statistical evaluation was performed using paired t-test. Results: The study results revealed that the teaching program in ART had a notable impact in the knowledge of the students. In the study, before the teaching program the maximum scores of the students were in the range of 15-19. However there was significant improvement after the teaching program. Posttest score were improved to a maximum range of the 35-40 marks. 69% of the DNM III year students scored between 15-19 marks in the pretest and no one scored above that. However the minimum score posttest was 25 and 58.18% students scored above 30. The values were statistically significant (p<0.01) Conclusion: The study findings revealed that the students had lack of knowledge on different methods of ART at the beginning of their teaching program and a significant improvement in knowledge was noted after this teaching program. We therefore recommend that , teaching programs should be conducted to provide the basic knowledge in ART to Students undergoing a Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery program. . Realizing how instrumental nurses can be in patient education, should be a future incentive for fertility centers to view the training and education of their nursing staff. If the assisted reproductive technology is included in their teaching program, it may lead to effective communication with patients, better treatment outcomes of ART and patient satisfaction.
