TRAUMA LIFE-SUPPORT EDUCATION - A DIDACTIC AND CAPRINE LABORATORY COURSE FOR NIGERIAN PHYSICIANS

The purpose of this study wits to introduce the principles 4 initial h ospital assessment and treatment of injured patients, tailored to the facilities and resources available in Nigeria. A 3-day didactic and la boratory course was presented by four trauma surgeons. The didactic se ssion stressed the initial assessment and treatment of injured patient s. The caprine laboratory taught the performance of common resuscitati on manoeuvres: cricothyroidotomy, tube thoracostomy, i.v. cutdown, dia gnostic peritoneal lavage, etc. The mean pre-course test score was 49. 3 per cent and the mean post-course test:score was 69.5 per cent; 93.5 per cent of the 124 participants increased their test scores. This re presents a significant increase in knowledge in Nigerian physicians. A cademic medical centres are encouraged to make such courses available in developing countries. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.