Assessing the Knowledge of Trauma Care Among Government Medical Officers in Uttarakhand: A Pre- and Post-intervention Study

TL;DR

A one-day trauma care training significantly improved government medical officers' knowledge in Uttarakhand, offering a model for resource-limited regions.

Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of short, structured trauma training in improving medical officers' knowledge in high-altitude, resource-constrained settings.

Findings

Post-training knowledge scores increased by 61%, from 13.49 to 21.71 (p < 0.001).

58.4% of participants were rated as outstanding or very satisfactory in trauma skills assessments.

Abstract

Background and objective: The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, India, attracts millions of pilgrims annually and poses a high risk of trauma in challenging high-altitude conditions. Trauma-related emergencies are a major concern in such regions, where healthcare resources are limited. Government medical officers, often deployed without formal trauma training, are crucial for timely care. Strengthening their knowledge through short, structured programs has wider implications for resource-constrained settings globally. This study evaluated a one-day trauma care training for Uttarakhand’s medical officers, aiming to enhance trauma management knowledge and inform strategies to improve emergency preparedness in similar high-risk environments.

Methods: This pre- and post-intervention study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh (UK, IND) and included 125 government medical officers nominated by the Director General of Health Services, Uttarakhand. The training covered essential trauma care topics through faculty lectures, interactive sessions, and hands-on simulations. A validated 40-question pre-test and post-test were used to assess knowledge, while practical skills in airway management, breathing, hemorrhage control, neurological assessment, and patient transfer were evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. Paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-training scores.

Results: Post-training knowledge mean score significantly increased from 13.49 (pre-test) to 21.71 (post-test) (p < 0.001), marking a 61% improvement in trauma care knowledge. In skill assessments, 58.4% of participants were rated as outstanding or very satisfactory, 32.8% as satisfactory, and 8.8% as unsatisfactory, indicating areas requiring further training. These findings align with previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of short-duration, structured trauma training programs in improving trauma management knowledge and skills. This study highlights the need for continuous skill reinforcement and refresher courses.

Conclusions: This study confirms that a one-day trauma training program significantly improves the knowledge and competence of medical officers in Uttarakhand, demonstrating its feasibility and impact in a resource-limited, high-demand environment. The model holds wider implications for India and other countries facing similar challenges of mass gatherings, remote geographies, and limited emergency infrastructure. Scalable training programs can strengthen healthcare capacity, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality from trauma across diverse settings.

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