[Inadequacy of general practitioner training in emergency resuscitation procedures: study in 4 districts of southern France].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge of emergency resuscitation procedures of general practitioners in Bouches-du-Rhône, the Gard, Hérault and Vaucluse.


METHODS
We sent 7239 self-assessment mail questionnaires to general practitioners. The responses were analyzed to determine the factors associated with lack of mastery of emergency resuscitation procedures; physicians who reported they could not perform these procedures were compared with the others.


RESULTS
In all, 1561 responses were analyzed (response rate=22%); 52% reported they had to perform emergency resuscitation procedures at least once a year, but 30% stated they had not mastered them. After multivariate analysis with logistic regression, the factors associated with lack of mastery of these procedures (or with mastery, for the variables with odds ratios <1) were age (reference 25-35 years, 36-45 years: odds ratio [OR]=1.94, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) [1.11-3.40]; 46-55 years, OR=2.93 [1.70-5.05]; age>55 years, OR=3.71 [2.07-6.62]), women (OR=1.39 [1.05-1.82]), clerkship or course in resuscitation and emergency medicine (second cycle clerkships, OR=0.75 [0.57-0.97]; third cycle internship, OR=0.30 [0.22-0.42]; course at another time, OR=0.43 [0.28-0.66]), performance of emergency resuscitation procedures in daily practice (reference: no procedure performed; at least one a year: OR=0.37 [0.29-0.49]; at least one every three months, OR=0.15 [0.08-0.25]), failure to use health records (reference: does not use records; users OR=0.70 [0.54-0.90]).


CONCLUSIONS
More consistent continuing medical education up seems necessary to meet the need for continuity of care, especially in the greatest emergencies.
Roger
Claire
C
Pôle division anesthésie réanimation douleur urgences, Groupe hospitalo-universitaire Caremeau, CHU de Nîmes, F-30029 Nîmes Cedex 9, France.
Lefrant
Jean-Yves
JY
Bousquet
Philippe Jean
PJ
Bonnec
Jean Marie
JM
Jaber
Samir
S
Ripart
Jacques
J
de la Coussaye
Jean Emmanuel
JE
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires