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Study to assess the need for paediatric trauma training in India
Neha Thakur Rai1, Prashant Mahajan2,3, Jabeen Fayyaz4
1Department of Paediatrics, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226010, India.
Insights
Trauma care providers in India recognize a critical need for specialized pediatric trauma training. Most providers lack confidence in treating child trauma patients, highlighting a gap in current medical education for low- and middle-income countries.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Paediatric trauma is a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Children with lower injury scores have higher mortality rates in LMICs compared to developed nations.
- Existing trauma training may not adequately address the specific needs of pediatric patients in LMICs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the perceived need for dedicated trauma training curricula for pediatric injuries in LMICs.
- To evaluate the confidence levels of trauma care providers in managing pediatric trauma cases.
- To explore potential solutions for improving pediatric trauma care in resource-limited settings.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous questionnaire-based survey was conducted.
- The study targeted trauma care providers at a major trauma training site in India.
- A total of 642 responses were collected, yielding an 80.25% response rate.
Main Results:
- 86% of surveyed providers indicated a need for specialized pediatric trauma training.
- Only 40% of providers felt confident in their ability to manage pediatric trauma cases.
- A significant gap exists in provider confidence and perceived training adequacy.
Conclusions:
- Trauma care providers in India acknowledge a substantial need for enhanced pediatric trauma training.
- Low confidence levels suggest current training is insufficient for effectively managing child trauma.
- Developing dedicated pediatric trauma centers and standardized training modules may improve outcomes for injured children in LMICs.
Introduction:
Paediatric trauma is an ever-rising problem in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries. Recent studies have demonstrated that children with lower injury scores are more likely to die in LMIC countries as compared to developed countries. We conducted this study to assess the need for a dedicated trauma training curriculum relevant to the epidemiology of paediatric injuries in LMIC countries.
Methods:
We conducted the study in the apex trauma training site in India, wherein a predesigned questionnaire was circulated to understand the need for additional trauma training for children.
Results:
A total of 642 trauma care providers out of 800 (response rate is 80.25%) completed the study. Eighty-six per cent (552/642) of trauma care providers felt the need for paediatric trauma training. Only 40% (255/642) of trauma providers were confident in handling children.
Conclusion:
In an anonymous survey, trauma care providers in India admit that they need more specific paediatric trauma training because the majority of them are not confident in handling child victims of trauma. Furthermore, they felt the best solution would be to create paediatric trauma centres, instead of caring for children in adult centres for traumas. Further studies are needed to discover if the development of a standardized Paediatric Trauma Resuscitation Module for trauma care providers can increase their confidence in caring for children who are victims of road injury or other traumas in low- and middle-income countries, and if specialized paediatric trauma centres would indeed decrease morbidity and mortality of children who experience trauma in LMIC countries.
