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. 2021 Jun;11(2):231-236.
doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2021.02.004. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Results from the implementation of the World Health Organization Basic Emergency Care Course in Lagos, Nigeria

Ayobami Olufadeji  1 , Agnes Usoro  2 , Chukwudi E Akubueze  3 , Benjamin O Aiwonodagbon  4 , Jonathan Strong  5 , Sean M Kivlehan  5 , Babatunde Akodu  3   6
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Results from the implementation of the World Health Organization Basic Emergency Care Course in Lagos, Nigeria

Ayobami Olufadeji et al. Afr J Emerg Med. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The emergency care of time-sensitive injuries and illnesses is increasingly recognized as an essential component of effective health care systems. However, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack healthcare providers formally trained in the care of emergency conditions. The Disease Control Priorities 3 project estimates that effective emergency care systems could avert up to half of all premature deaths in LMICs. Nigeria, a lower-middle income country of nearly 200 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, could save approximately 100,000 lives per year with an effective emergency care system. The World Health Organization developed the Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course to train frontline healthcare workers in the management of emergency conditions in low resource settings. In this study we describe our work implementing the BEC course Nigeria.

Methods: This study was designed as a mixed methods research analysis comparing pre- and post- course examination results and surveys to evaluate participant knowledge acquisition and levels of confidence with management of various emergency conditions. Thirty-two participants were involved in the course which took place over four days at the Lagos University Teaching hospital. Quantitative data was analyzed using Stata 14.2 (College Station, TX). Paired data sets were analyzed using McNemar's chi-squared. Unpaired data sets were analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: Post-course test scores showed significant improvement (p-value <0.001) as compared to pre-course. The average pre-course test score was 73% and average post-course score was 86.5%. Pre- and post-course questionnaires demonstrated significantly increased confidence in managing emergency conditions and agreement with course objectives.

Conclusions: The WHO Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course successfully increased the knowledge and confidence of frontline emergency care providers in Nigeria. The course was well received by participants. Future study should focus on BEC course scalability and long-term knowledge retention.

Keywords: Basic emergency care; Emergency medicine in Nigeria; Medical education; Short training courses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no conflict of interest

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of pre-and post-course scores.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Change in self-reported confidence with selected emergency care knowledge and skill areas.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Participant agreement with meeting course objectives.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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