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Retention of Basic Trauma Life Support Skills

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Howard A. Werman ,
David R. Keseg ,
Mayer Glimcher ,
Carol Schumacher ,
Steven Shaner  and
Charles G. Brown
Howard A. Werman*
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
David R. Keseg
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Mayer Glimcher
Affiliation:
Emergency Medical Services Technology, Department of Allied Health, Columbus State Community College, USA
Carol Schumacher
Affiliation:
SKYMED Hospital Helicopter Consortium, Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Steven Shaner
Affiliation:
SKYMED Hospital Helicopter Consortium, Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Charles G. Brown
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
*
Howard A. Werman, MD, FACEP, Division of Emergency Medicine, 8-59 Rhodes Hall, Ohio State University, 450 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1228 USA
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Abstract

The Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) course was developed to teach prehospital providers a rapid, prioritized approach to assess and manage the trauma victim. Little data currently are available relative to the retention of the cognitive and psychomotor skilk taught in the course. To examine this question, thirteen paramedics were retested on identically moulaged trauma scenarios and written examinations 14–16 months after initial training in BTLS. No advanced notification of the re-test was given. Written test scores decreased from an initial mean of 93.0±6.6 to a mean of 64.9±11.8 (p<0.001) 14–16 months later. Similarly, the trauma scenario test scores declined from 71.6±10.4 to 61.3±16.2 (p<0.05). The results suggest that there is significant loss of both didactic information and practical skills from the BTLS course 14–16 months after training. Frequent BTLS refresher training in the form of supplemental readings, lectures, and repeated exposures to trauma simulations is needed.

Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , June 1990 , pp. 137 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1990

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