Cross-sectional study of the educational background and trauma knowledge of trainees in the "China trauma care training" program.

Background: Since the trauma knowledge of trauma providers correlates with the outcomes of injured patients, this study aims to assess the socio-demographic characteristics and levels of trauma knowledge of trainees in the China trauma care training (CTCT) program in addition to their post-course test results to provide support for the development of trauma care training programs and trauma systems in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by collecting demographic information, hospital-related information and trauma knowledge of the trainees from 19 regions in China. All participants were assessed by questionnaires collecting the socio-demographic data, the trauma care knowledge levels and the information of the hospitals.

Results: There were 955 males (78.9%) and 256 females (21.1%) enrolled. Among them, 854 were physicians (70.5%), 357 were registered nurses (29.5%). In addition, 64 of them also played an administrative role in the hospitals (5.3%). The score of the trainees who were members of the emergency department staff (72.59 ± 14.13) was the highest among the scores of all the personnel surveyed, followed by those of the trainees from the intensive care unit (ICU) (71.17 ± 12.72), trauma surgery department (67.26 ± 13.81), orthopedics department (70.36 ± 14.48), general surgery department (69.91 ± 14.79) and other departments (69.93 ± 16.91), P = 0.031. The score of the professors (73.09 ± 15.05) was higher than those of the associate professors (72.40 ± 14.71), lecturers (70.07 ± 14.25) and teaching assistants (67.58 ± 15.16), P < 0.0001. The score of the individuals who attended experts' trauma lectures (72.22 ± 14.45) was higher than that of individuals who did not attend the lectures (69.33 ± 15.17), P = 0.001. The mean scores before and after the training were 71.02 ± 14.82 and 84.24 ± 13.77, respectively, P < 0.001. The mean score of trauma knowledge after the training of trainees from different provinces and with different educational backgrounds was higher than that before the training, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The level of trauma knowledge of trauma care providers was associated with their department, professional position and previous participation in related academic conferences. Trauma care experience and participation in academic lectures and training program including CTCT may effectively improve individuals' level of trauma knowledge.