Development and evaluation of the Rural Trauma and Emergency Care Roadshow

Aims. To validate the Rural Trauma and Emergency Care (RTEC) Roadshow, an e ducational programme comprised of 14 skills-based, educational modules in t rauma care designed for rural general practitioners and taught as a travell ing roadshow in isolated rural areas. Method. The first 31 rural general practitioners to participate in the cour se completed an extensive participant satisfaction rating form. They also u nderwent pre-and post-testing of knowledge using a written true/false test, of skills using an OSCE examination and of stress related to being on call using a self-assessment, Likert scale. Results. Participant satisfaction was high with a mean rating of 4.7 (maxim um of 5) for overall course quality and relevance of content. There was a s ignificant increase in skills (from 46 to 73% mean OSCE scores), in knowled ge (from 58 to 69% mean true-false test scores) and in confidence in handli ng major trauma (from 3.9 to 5.3 on a ten point scale) as a result of the c ourse. Conclusion. The RTEC course is effective in increasing the skills and knowl edge of general practitioners in trauma care.