Does participation in the European Trauma Course lead to new behaviours and organisational change? A Portuguese experience

Abstract

Background Medical educational courses can be successful from an immediate feedback perspective but not lead to new behaviour or organisational changes in the workplace. The aim of this study was to assess the self-perceived impact of the European Trauma Course (ETC) on Reanima trainees’ behaviour and organisational change. Methods A 40-item questionnaire based on Holton's evaluation model was used to evaluate the candidate's perceptions. The results were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using nonparametric tests with α = 0.05. Results Out of 295 participants, 126 responded to the survey. Of these, 94% affirmed that the ETC modified their approach to trauma patients, and 71.4% described a change in their behaviour. Postcourse responders changed their behaviour in their initial approach to trauma care in the nontechnical skills of communication, prioritisation and teamwork. Being an ETC instructor strongly influenced the acquisition of new material, and this group was able to implement changes in attitudes. Individuals with no previous trauma course experience identified lack of self-efficacy as a significant obstacle to introducing new work-based learning. In contrast, responders with ATLS training noted a lack of ETC colleagues as the main impediment for moving from conceptualisation to experimentation in the workplace. Conclusions Participation in the ETC led to behavioural changes in the workplace. However, the ability to influence others and bring about wider organisational changes was more difficult to achieve. Major factors were the status of the person, their experience and self-efficacy. National organisational impact was obtained, which went far beyond our aspirations in acknowledging change in individual daily practice. Future research studies will include the effect of implementing the ETC methodology on the outcome of trauma patients.

National Assessment of Opportunities for Improvement in Preventable Trauma Deaths: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…These fundamental principles of resuscitation for patients with severe trauma can be instilled in healthcare professionals by an appropriate education, training, and effective evaluation. The Advanced Trauma Life Support course in the United States [ 35 ] has been widely reported to have improved the resuscitation procedures for patients with severe trauma, and reduced mortality rates since its implementation in healthcare professional and student education programs [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Government support is necessary for such trauma care education, and collaboration with professional societies is required to systematize and formalize sporadic education on specialized trauma resuscitation.…”

The European Trauma Course: Transforming systems through training

“…The ETC aims to enhance its evaluation strategy by assessing the on-the-job application of ETC principles. 34 Additionally, evaluating the impact on broader organisational structures and clinical outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality rates, is a future goal. Developing robust evaluation methods for this impact, especially in dynamic trauma care settings, poses challenges but is essential for comprehensive program assessment.…”

Effect of Rural Trauma Team Development on the Outcomes of Motorcycle Accident–Related Injuries (Motor Registry Project): Protocol for a Multicenter Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Evidence from 2 systematic reviews has shown that trauma education programs have the potential to improve skill acquisition and knowledge retention among health professionals; however, with regard to LMICs, most of these programs have not been locally contextualized and have been largely assessed based on their theoretical merit rather than their clinical impact on patients [ 15 , 16 ]. A recent observational study in Portugal showed that the European trauma course (ETC) improved self-efficacy and organization skills in individual routine practice, but the authors mentioned that future investigations should be conducted to examine the effect of the training on trauma outcomes [ 17 ]. This European study and systematic reviews in LMICs have recommended high-caliber epidemiological studies to evaluate the effects of such educational programs on process outcomes, such as organizational efficiency, and on patient outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality [ 15 , 16 , 18 ].…”