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. 2023 Apr 21;16(1):29.
doi: 10.1186/s12245-023-00487-z.

Evaluation of the World Health Organization-International Committee of the Red Cross Basic Emergency Care course for senior medical students

Nichole Michaeli  1 , Giovanna De Luca  2 , Mary Gitau  3 , Justin Myers  4 , Daniel Ojuka  5 , Derick Ouma  3 , Travis Wieland  6 , Grace Wanjiku  2
Affiliations

Evaluation of the World Health Organization-International Committee of the Red Cross Basic Emergency Care course for senior medical students

Nichole Michaeli et al. Int J Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Background: The Basic Emergency Care: Approach to the acutely ill and injured course was developed to train health care providers to recognize, stabilize, and treat critically ill patients in resource-limited settings. This study evaluates the Basic Emergency Care course as a tool for improving the emergency medicine knowledge and skills of medical students in a lower-middle income country.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted with senior medical students at the University of Nairobi School of Medicine in October 2021. Participants' knowledge was assessed with multiple choice pre- and post-course examinations. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed participants' confidence in managing acutely ill and injured patients using a 4-point Likert scale.

Results: A total of 30 students from the graduating medical school class participated in the study. Post-course examination scores (mean 94.5%, range 80-100%) showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) compared to pre-course examination scores (mean 82%, range 64-96%). Participants' comfort and confidence in providing emergency care and performing critical emergency skills significantly increased (p < 0.05) between the pre- and post-course surveys.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Basic Emergency Care course is effective in providing senior medical students with basic emergency medicine knowledge and increasing their confidence to identify and address life-threatening conditions prior to their intern year.

Keywords: Emergency care; Emergency medicine education; Training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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