6th Edition of World Nursing Science Conference 2026

Abstract

Introduction 
Upskilling nurses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is a critical component to strengthening surgical capacity and improving patient outcomes. While immediate skill acquisition is commonly reported, quantification of long-term impact and secondary workforce evaluation remains limited. 
Aims 
This study evaluates the one-year impact of three regional nursing conferences on cleft and non-cleft patients and knowledge sharing among nurses in LMICs. 
Materials and Methods
Regional Nursing Trainings were held from February to September 2024 in Ethiopia, Peru, and India. Participants were surveyed immediately post-conference and after one year. Surveys collected data on self-reported confidence, program experience, and metrics to evaluate patient impact. To quantify patient impact, a multiplier was derived for each provider by multiplying the average number of patients seen annually by the proportion estimated to benefit from training-acquired skills, generating both a cleft and a non-cleft multiplier. Comparative analysis across the two timepoints was performed to evaluate secondary educational dissemination to colleagues and changes in impact values. 
Results 
A total of 124 nursing providers representing 24 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe participated at baseline, including OR nurses (44%), Pre/Post-op nurses (39%), and PACU nurses (17%). After one-year, 29 nursing providers completed the survey (38% SSA, 45% LAC, and 17% Asia). The baseline patient impact multipliers were 12,935 cleft and 91,157 non-cleft patients per year. At follow-up, participants reported impacting 654 p cleft and 13,334 non-cleft patients per year. Within one year, participants reported training a cumulative total of 556 additional nurses using skills gained (mean 19.17 ± 19.65 nurses per participant). At baseline, 98% of participants reported increased confidence, which was sustained at follow-up. 
Conclusion 
Regional nursing conferences are scalable models for strengthening multidisciplinary surgical systems through improving nursing skills for both cleft and non-cleft patients and facilitating secondary workforce education.