Knowledge and Proficiency in Skills of Initial Trauma Management among Healthcare Personnel in Secondary Care

Abstract

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols aim to provide good trauma care by enhancing the skills of medical personnel all over the world and while this is well established in developed countries it does not appear to be so in developing countries. This study aims to assess the knowledge and proficiency in initial trauma management skills among health caregivers in some general/cottage hospitals in north central Nigeria. Questionnaires were developed to assess the knowledge and skills of care givers in airway management, respiratory distress and shock. The questionnaires were administered on caregivers involved in trauma care in some general/cottage hospitals that offer secondary care in a state in north-central Nigeria. There were 34 health workers who responded, 10 (29.41%) were doctors and 24(70.54%) were nurses. Their years of experience were from 2 to 35 years (median 14years). Ten (29.41%) had at least one training in ATLS in the past while 24(70.59%) had none. In assessing their management skills, 97.06% reported they were able to assess the airway, 88.24% could do chin lift, 73.53% jaw thrust while 91.18% were able to insert oral airway. Thirty-one (91.18%) were able to recognize respiratory distress, 88.24 were able to administer oxygen using facemask and 64.71% using nasal prong. Thirty (88.24%) could assess a patient for shock, 82.35% could splint fractures for haemorrhage control. Twenty-seven (79.41%) reported knowing parameters to monitor during resuscitation. We concluded that knowledge of airway management was high but proficiency and confidence in performing these skills were low.