GENERAL SURGEONS AND THE ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE-SUPPORT COURSE - IS IT TIME TO REFOCUS

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess Advanced Trauma Life Su pport (ATLS) training status of general surgeons, its perceived utilit y, and its relation to clinical trauma practice. Methods: A national s ample of 1300 general surgeons was surveyed by mail about trauma train ing, ATLS status, trauma can, and confidence in clinical trauma care a bilities. Results: Response rate was 61%, Respondents most commonly (6 7%) felt they learned a great deal about trauma care in residency trai ning; 13% responded similarly regarding ATLS. Course participation wit hin 4 years of the survey was reported by 33% of respondents. Nearly 7 5% of those not taking the course cited primary reasons related to rel evance (30%), redundancy (29%), and credentialing (15%), Inaccessibili ty, inconvenience, and cost were lesser factors, Of those expressing e xtreme confidence with trauma resuscitation, 40% had taken ATLS; 15% o f those expressing a lesser degree of confidence had taken ATLS. Concl usions: The ATLS course represents a standard of initial trauma care e ducation in which only one-third of surgeons report current participat ion, Many view ATLS as not relevant or useful, yet take trauma call, T o ensure standard education and patient care, an ATLS course curriculu m specifically geared to the general surgeon should be developed and m ade a mandatory component of residency training or a requirement for b oard certification and trauma call credentialing.