Improving emergency care capacity with the WHO-ICRC Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Increasing global demand for acute care disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries.
• Healthcare provider training is crucial for reducing mortality and improving well-being, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
• The World Health Organization- International Committee of the Red Cross (WHO-ICRC) Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course has not yet been fully implemented in several Francophone African nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the introduction and impact of the WHO-ICRC BEC training in Cameroon, Djibouti, Haiti, Morocco, and Tunisia.
• To assess the changes in knowledge and confidence of healthcare providers after completing the BEC course.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the BEC training and identify areas for future improvement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized pre- and post-course surveys to measure changes in knowledge and confidence.
• Delivered a 4-day French BEC course and a 1-day Training of Trainer (ToT) course in Yaounde, Cameroon.
• Collected data from 50 participants on their acute care knowledge, skills, and self-assurance.

Main Results:

• Median scores improved significantly from 72% pre-course to 88% post-course (p < 0.001).
• Participant self-confidence in managing acute care scenarios doubled.
• Training materials, courses, and facilitation received universal acclaim, though 30% suggested longer practical skills sessions.

Conclusions:

• The WHO-ICRC BEC course effectively enhanced acute care knowledge, skills, and self-confidence in participants from five Francophone African countries.
• Newly trained provisional trainers are prepared to extend BEC training within their respective regions.
• Future research should focus on overcoming challenges in evaluating patient outcomes post-training.