The relationship of the level of training and area of medical specialization with registrant performance in an advanced trauma life-support course

Factors Affecting Success Rate of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Courses

“…Physicians with surgical specialties were more likely to successfully complete the ATLS course [9]. The level of training and area of practice seem to make a difference [15][16][17]. The level of knowledge varied among physicians from different fields of practice.…”

“…The level of knowledge varied among physicians from different fields of practice. In terms of specialty, studies have shown that Internal Medicine physicians had the lowest ATLS performance in the domains of airway problems and extremity injuries [15], possibly because they were less familiar with these domains. Similarly, surgeons had difficulty in the areas of airway problems and treatment of burns.…”

“…We also did not record the levels of participants’ preparation, motivation [9], stress [24], stimulation among participants by the teaching methods or content of the course, interaction between faculty and students, amount of time allowed for questions and discussion [15, 20, 23, 25], and the level of difficulty of questions [26].…”

“…Similarly, surgeons had difficulty in the areas of airway problems and treatment of burns. Emergency physicians performed well in these areas because of their regular involvement in managing these problems [15].…”

Advanced life support courses for board-certified emergency physicians: lowering the standard of care?

“…Rare, retrospective studies evaluating the impact of ATLS on patient outcomes offer conflicting results (24,25). In fact, EPs have been shown to outperform surgeons, internists, and family practitioners in a number of ATLS parameters; not surprising when one considers the scope of EM clinical activities (27). We are aware of no studies demonstrating that physicians with ALSCs outperform B/C EPs in resuscitation and stabilization.…”