title: Predictors of failure in the Advanced Trauma Life Support course.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over 1 million healthcare providers have participated in the Advanced Trauma Life Support course. No studies have evaluated factors that predict course performance. This study aims to identify these predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants taking the course at 2 centers over a 4-year period were identified. Demographics, background, and performance data were extracted. Participants who failed were compared with those who did not. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred forty-four healthcare providers participated in the course; 89.5% passed and 10.5% failed. Failure rates were lowest (.0%) among Trauma/Surgical Critical Care (SCC) providers and highest among pediatric providers (28.6%). Stepwise logistic regression identified age greater than 55, English as a second language, pretest score less than 75, and non-Trauma/SCC and non-Emergency Medicine background as predictors of failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A failure rate of 10.5% was demonstrated among the course participants. Age greater than 55, English as second language, pretest score less than 75, and non-Trauma/SCC and non-Emergency Medicine backgrounds were associated with failure. These subgroups may benefit from performance improvement measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mobily
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Bernardino C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Bellal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Judkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Narong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kulvatunyou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery and Burns, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: atang@surgery.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061906:Advanced Trauma Life Support Care; D000367:Age Factors; D001130:Arizona; D002140:California; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013038:Specialization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education*
keywords: Advanced Trauma Life Support participant course; Emergency medicine; Failure; Predictors; Trauma and Surgical Critical Care