title: Application of Cervical Collars - An Analysis of Practical Skills of Professional Emergency Medical Care Providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The application of a cervical collar is a standard procedure in trauma patients in emergency medicine. It is often observed that cervical collars are applied incorrectly, resulting in reduced immobilization of the cervical spine. The objective of this study was to analyze the practical skills of trained professional rescue personnel concerning the application of cervical collars.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within emergency medical conferences, n = 104 voluntary test subjects were asked to apply a cervical collar to a training doll, wherein each step that was performed received an evaluation. Furthermore, personal and occupational data of all study participants were collected using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The test subjects included professional rescue personnel (80.8%) and emergency physicians (12.5%). The average occupational experience of all study participants in pre-clinical emergency care was 11.1±8.9 years. Most study participants had already attended a certified training on trauma care (61%) and felt "very confident" in handling a cervical collar (84%). 11% applied the cervical collar to the training doll without errors. The most common error consisted of incorrect adjustment of the size of the cervical collar (66%). No association was found between the correct application of the cervical collar and the occupational group of the test subjects (trained rescue personnel vs. emergency physicians) or the participation in certified trauma courses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite pronounced subjective confidence regarding the application of cervical collars, this study allows the conclusion that there are general deficits in practical skills when cervical collars are applied. A critical assessment of the current training contents on the subject of trauma care must, therefore, be demanded.
authors.affiliation: BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Ludwigshafen, Germany.|PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreinest
authors.affiliation: BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Ludwigshafen, Germany.|PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goller
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Institute for Medical Biometry and Informatics, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.affiliation: Mittelbaden Clinic, Department for Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Baden-Baden, Germany.|PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gliwitzky
authors.affiliation: BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Ludwigshafen, Germany.|PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wölfl
authors.affiliation: BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matschke
authors.affiliation: BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Ludwigshafen, Germany.|PHTLS Europe Research Group, Offenbach/Queich, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Münzberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013165:Splints; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce