title: Effect of basic prehospital trauma life support program on cognitive and trauma management skills.
abstract: We tested the effectiveness of a basic prehospital trauma life support (PHTLS) program by assessing cognitive performance and trauma management skills among prehospital trauma personnel. Fourteen subjects who completed a standard PHTLS course (group I) were compared to a matched group not completing a PHTLS program (group II). Cognitive performance was assessed on 50-item multiple choice examinations, and trauma skills management was assessed with four simulated trauma patients. Pre-PHTLS multiple choice questionnaire scores were similar (45.8 +/- 9.4% vs. 48.8 +/- 8.9% for groups I and II, respectively), but the post-PHTLS scores were higher in group I (80.4 +/- 5.9%) than in group II (52.6 +/- 4.9%). Pre-PHTLS simulated trauma patient performance scores (standardized to a maximum total of 20 for each station) were similar at all four stations for both groups, ranging from 7.9 to 10.4. The post-PHTLS scores were statistically significantly higher at all four stations for group I (range 16.0-19.0) compared to those for group II (range 8.0-11.1). The overall mean pre-PHTLS score for all four stations was 8.3 +/- 2.1 for group I and 8.8 +/- 2.0 (NS) for group II; the group I post-PHTLS mean score for the four stations was 17.1 +/- 2.7 (p < 0.05) compared to 9.1 +/- 2.3 for group II. Pre-PHTLS Adherence to Priority scores on a scale of 1 to 7 were similar (1.1 +/- 0.9 for group I and 1.2 +/- 1.0 for group II). Post-PHTLS group I Priority scores increased to 5.9 +/- 1.1. Group II (1.1 +/- 1.0) did not improve their post-PHTLS scores. The pre-PHTLS Organized Approach scores in the simulated trauma patients on a scale of 1 to 5 were 2.1 +/- 1.0 for group I and 1.9 +/- 1.2 for group II (NS) compared to 4.2 +/- 0.9 (p < 0.05) in group I and 2.0 +/- 0.8 in group II after PHTLS. This study demonstrates improved cognitive and trauma management skills performance among prehospital paramedical personnel who complete the basic PHTLS program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Josa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bedsaysie
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haynes
mesh_terms: D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education*; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*