Participants' Experience of Completing Trauma and Critical Skills Training in a Resource-Limited Environment

Abstract

Introduction:Global Emergency Care Skills, an Irish-based NGO, provided a five-day intensive training course to 24 local healthcare professionals in Nyabondo, Kenya in November 2022, in advance of the opening of a new major trauma center which will serve the greater Kisumu region. The pre-participation knowledge, experience and skills base was surveyed. Following the completion of didactic, workshop and simulation-based training, the perceived acquired competence and applicability of skills were surveyed. The ability to provide ongoing teaching of skills acquired within local healthcare settings was evident.Method:Nine emergency medicine and two anesthesia doctors currently working in the Irish healthcare system traveled to Nyabondo in the Kisumu region in Kenya for one week in November 2022. A five-day course based on providing practical training addressing comprehensive trauma and acute deteriorating patient knowledge and skills was provided. This included extensive focus on the primary survey approach. A quantitative survey of 22 questions with binary answering options was used. 19 participants completed the survey, and qualitative data on the applicability of the training provided to the local healthcare resource environment was gathered.Results:Following surveying participants we found that the majority of participants had no previous experience or knowledge of simulation based learning. Further, a vast majority had no formal skills or educational training post completing their medical qualification.Conclusion:The overwhelming majority of participants felt that this training improved their confidence and competence in managing trauma and assessment of the critically unwell adult and child. 100% of participants stated they gained new skills and were confident in their ability following this training to deliver local training on an ongoing basis in their own healthcare settings.