J. K. Bagley4, C. M. McCullough4, M. E. Quinn4, J. Srinivasan1, V. DeGennaro2,3, J. Sharma1 1Emory University School Of Medicine,Department Of Surgery,Atlanta, GA, USA 2University Of Florida,Department Of Medicine, College Of Medicine,Gainesville, FL, USA 3Project Medishare For Haiti,Port Au Prince, , Haiti 4Emory University School Of Medicine,Atlanta, GA, USA
Introduction: The burden of trauma is disproportionally greater in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) such as Haiti. As a follow up to a previous survey in Haiti’s Central Plateau, this study was designed with the goal of addressing the current state of trauma training among practitioners in hospitals throughout Haiti.
Methods: A survey was designed to globally assess the needs of trauma-related care in Haiti, comprised of 13 sections containing a total of 260 questions. A total of 14 questions were prepared with the goal of quantifying trauma training among physicians staffing Emergency Departments (ED) and general surgeons. Medical directors, hospital administrators, surgeons, and physicians staffing the ED were questioned via interpreter to complete the survey based on interviewee knowledge and availability. Formal trauma training was defined as having taken a course in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) or ATLS-equivalent.
Results: The survey was administered at 11 major hospitals in 9 (of 10) Departments in Haiti. Of 10 hospitals for which the survey is complete, two had ED physicians with trauma training. At those two facilities, an average of 40% of all ED physicians had trauma training. 3 hospitals had general surgeons with trauma training. At those three facilities, 50% of all general surgeons had trauma training. 2 hospitals have offered ATLS or an ATLS-equivalent course to hospital staff. 9 hospitals have access to in-service training by visiting medical teams or hospital staff, and 2 of those indicate trauma as a previous topic of training.
Conclusion: Formal training in trauma care is infrequent or absent in many large hospitals in Haiti, despite an increased burden of disease compared to high-income counties. Though ATLS has not been correlated to outcomes in injury-related care in LMIC, we believe that formal, applied trauma training would be of benefit to victims of injury in Haiti. This information was gathered with the cooperation of the Haitian Ministry of Health in efforts to improve hospital care and outcomes of trauma victims.