The influence of changes in the form of physician postgraduate residency training on their ability to perform post-traumatic examination as an emergency procedure

Introduction

Post-traumatic examination methods have been developed for the easier and more efficient management of trauma patients. Performed according to a scheme, post-traumatic examination must be well-learned and repeatedly practised. Training for this has radically changed in recent years in Poland.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 2 different forms of physician postgraduate residency training by assessing how well trainee physicians carry out post-traumatic examinations.

Materials and methods

The study involved 2 groups of trainee physicians who were tasked with performing a full post-traumatic examination on simulated patients. Group I consisted of 81 physicians who had taken part in postgraduate residency training in 2011, and group II was comprised of 63 trainee physicians who had undergone such training in 2015. A Laerdal MegaCode Kelly manikin was employed in the project. All simulated patients had the same external injuries and vital function parameters.

Results

None of the physicians in group I correctly carried out all 4 procedures for preliminary assessment (consciousness, airway patency, breath, and blood circulation), and only 7.14% managed to correctly perform 3 of these procedures. In group II, all 4 procedures were executed correctly by 9.52% of the physicians, and 3 procedures by 14.29% (p < 0.001). Quick post-traumatic examination was performed correctly by 4.76% of the physicians from group II but by none of the physicians from group I (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In both groups of trainee physicians, the ability to recognize a life-threatening situation and to perform a posttraumatic examination was inadequate. Postgraduate residency training in both its previous and present form did not guarantee a satisfactory knowledge in this subject.