title: Trauma base knowledge and the effect of the trauma evaluation and management program among senior medical students in seven countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We compared base trauma knowledge and the impact of the Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) program among senior medical students in seven countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared pre- and post-TEAM multiple choice question scores of fourth-year students in Jamaica (n = 32), Trinidad (n = 32), Costa Rica (n = 64), Australia (n = 35), United Arab Emirates (n = 68), Toronto (n = 29) and Pennsylvania (n = 34). Means and degree of improvement were compared by analysis of variance (p < 0.05 for statistical significance). Percentage pass (based on 70% or 60% pass mark), student's perception of instruction level, and grading of TEAM (based on the percentage of students grading 1-5 for each category) were assessed by chi2 analysis. [table: see text].
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 31.4% of students achieved the borderline pass mark of 60%, and 5.4% achieved a clear pass mark of 70%. The performance before and after TEAM was quite variable among medical schools. A grade of > or = 4 was assigned by 74% to 100% for objectives, knowledge improvement, satisfaction, and recommending TEAM for the curriculum. TEAM was rated "just right" by 70.3% to 92.7%, "too simple" by 1.6% to 21.6%, and "too advanced" by 3.3% to 13.5% of students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Base trauma knowledge in these students, though variable, was generally very low and improved with TEAM. Our data suggest a need for greater undergraduate emphasis in trauma education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. alij@smh.toronto.on.ca
authors.forename: Jameel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Jack I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education*