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Adequacy of Emergency Physicians in the Assessment of Hand Injury: A Cross-sectional Study
Rahaf Almutairi1, Aseel Alkhmeshi1, Renad Alsaeed1
1From the College of Medicine, Imam Mohamed bin Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Hand injuries account for a significant portion of emergency department visits. This study assessed the competency of emergency physicians in the initial management of common hand injuries and identified areas for improvement in assessment and treatment.
Methods:
We distributed a case scenario-based questionnaire among emergency physicians in Saudi Arabia registered in the Saudi Commission for Health Specialist database. The questionnaire assessed the adequacy of their management of the most common hand injuries.
Results:
Overall, 282 physicians were included; 66.3% were men, and only 8.2% were consultants. The overall mean hand injury knowledge score was 10.46 points out of 20 (SD = 3.92), indicating moderate knowledge. Male physicians scored significantly lower (M = 9.89 points) compared with female physicians (M = 11.55 points) (P < 0.001). Medical resident physicians had lower scores compared with the other physicians (resident-2 to consultants) (P < 0.001). Years of experience and type of medical centers in which physicians worked correlated significantly with their knowledge score. The questions most often answered correctly were on morbidity and limb-threatening conditions. Conversely, the most commonly incorrect responses were related to specific aspects of nail trephination, the management of hand burns, and mallet finger injuries.
Conclusions:
This study identified gaps in emergency physician management of common hand injuries, highlighting the need for targeted training. Enhancing assessment and treatment skills will improve patient outcomes, triage efficiency, and overall quality of emergency care.
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