title: Basic trauma life support: knowledge of medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The first hour of management (golden hour) of any trauma patient might be the determining factor if he/she will survive. The first contact most patients have in an emergency room is with a young medical graduate. The knowledge of basic trauma life support (BTLS) by all doctors therefore becomes important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study set out to assess how much knowledge medical students had about BTLS in their final year compared with their knowledge at the beginning of clinical postings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of fourth and sixth (final) year medical students to evaluate their knowledge of BTLS using a test of 30 questions under examination conditions. One hundred and twenty-three fourth year students were given a test after a lecture on the care of injured patients. The same test was administered on 41 sixth year students without prior lecture on day of test, having had a similar lecture 2 years before. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 11.0 for Windows statistical software and EPI INFO version 6.04.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores were 25.8 +/- SD1.91 for the 4th year students and 21.0 +/- SD2.93 for the 6th year students. There was a statistically significant difference between scores of the 4th year and the 6th year (P < 0.000001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge was imparted in the 4th year but was forgotten by the 6th year. It is essential that courses in BTLS be given periodically to all medical graduates and all personnel involved in care of the traumatised patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital PMB 2001, Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria. tolakiode@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akiode
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shonubi
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Lesi
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*