[A survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice of emergency department practitioners in musculoskeletal injuries]

A knowledge, attitude, and practice study was conducted in relation to musculoskeletal injuries among emergency department practitioners working in the town of Afyon, Turkey.

Of 40 practitioners working at emergency health services in Afyon, 32 (80%) responded to a 20-item questionnaire that inquired about their knowledge, attitude and practice. A 100-point scoring system was used for the first half of the questionnaire including 10 questions about their knowledge, and a total score of 60 or above was regarded as successful. Inquiry was focused on frequent emergency problems that require intervention by the emergency department practitioners, such as neck examination in trauma patients, treatment of open fractures, intervention to dislocations, treatment in gunshot injuries, and transportation of traumatic amputated organs.

The mean duration of professional practice was 7.8+/-3.9 years. The mean achievement score was 66.6+/-15.8, without any significant difference among institutions. No significant relationship existed between the duration of professional practice and knowledge scores. Despite a success rate of 81.3% in knowledge scores, the following shortcomings were notable: neglect in the neurological examination of the lower extremity during neck examination, and inappropriate definitions and interventions in open fractures, tetanus prophylaxis, and antibiotic treatment.

The survey showed that the practitioners in Afyon have sufficient knowledge levels; however, it seems apparent that there are shortcomings in their practice, which require continuing education for all the staff.