Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda
Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), 45% of deaths could be addressed by implementation of an emergency medical services (EMS) system. Prehospital care is a critical component of EMS worldwide, and basic, affordable training has been shown to improve EMS systems. However, patient...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/04c416xm |
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| author | Naz Karim Jeanne D’Arc Nyinawankusi Mikaela S. Belsky Pascal Mugemangango Zeta Mutabazi Catalina Gonzalez Marques Angela Y. Zhang Janette Baird Jean Marie Uwitonze Adam C. Levine |
| author_facet | Naz Karim Jeanne D’Arc Nyinawankusi Mikaela S. Belsky Pascal Mugemangango Zeta Mutabazi Catalina Gonzalez Marques Angela Y. Zhang Janette Baird Jean Marie Uwitonze Adam C. Levine |
| author_sort | Naz Karim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), 45% of deaths could be addressed by implementation of an emergency medical services (EMS) system. Prehospital care is a critical component of EMS worldwide, and basic, affordable training has been shown to improve EMS systems. However, patient outcome impact is unclear. In this study we aimed to assess the current state of prehospital care in Kigali, Rwanda, through a needs assessment, focused training intervention, and analysis of current practices and patient outcomes. Methods: We identified 30 clinicians through the prehospital medical command office and included them in the study. A prospective, nonrandomized, interrupted time-series approach was used. Data collected through closed- and open-ended questionnaires included age, sex, training, and knowledge assessment. We used the data to create a tailored, 18-hour training after which immediate and 11-month post-tests were administered. Linked prehospital and hospital care datasets allowed for evaluation of patient outcomes and prehospital process indicators that included training skill application, airway intervention, intravenous fluid administration, and glucose administration. Results: Of 30 clinicians, 18 (60%) were female, 19 were nurses, and 11 were nurse anaesthetists. Median age was 36, and median years providing care was 10 (IQR 7–11). Twenty-four (80%) participants completed immediate and post-test assessments. Mean knowledge across 12 core skills significantly improved from a pre-test mean of 59.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 42.2–77.20) to a post-test mean of 87.8% (95% CI 74.7–100). At 11 months post-training, the score improvement maintained, with a mean score of 77.6% (95% CI 59.2–96.8). For patient outcomes, the total sample size was 572 patients; 324 of these patients were transported to the ED during the pre-training period (56.4%), while 248 were transported post-training. Prehospital oxygen administration for patients with a saturation level of <95% significantly increased pre- to post-training (66.7% to 71.7%; Δ = 5.0%; Δ95% CI 1.9,−8.1%). No significant changes were noted in patient treatment outcomes or other process indicators due to small sample sizes. Conclusion: This study provides insights on Rwandan EMS and demonstrates that a tailored intervention targeting education on prehospital process indicators has positive impacts on clinician knowledge and practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9c825e390ce9463193530c710fc2750a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-9c825e390ce9463193530c710fc2750a2025-02-07T16:29:04ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182024-11-0126110311010.5811/westjem.1869818698Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in RwandaNaz Karim0Jeanne D’Arc Nyinawankusi1Mikaela S. Belsky2Pascal Mugemangango3Zeta Mutabazi4Catalina Gonzalez Marques5Angela Y. Zhang6Janette Baird7Jean Marie Uwitonze8Adam C. Levine9Brown University Alpert Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Providence, Rhode IslandService d’Aide Médicale Urgente, Kigali, RwandaNYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New YorkUniversity Teaching Hospital, Kigali, RwandaUniversity of Rwanda, Department of Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Kigali, RwandaBrigham and Women’s Hospital, Department of Global Emergency Care and Humanitarian Studies, Boston, MassachusettsUniversity of Washington, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle, WashingtonBrown University Alpert Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Providence, Rhode IslandService d’Aide Médicale Urgente, Kigali, RwandaBrown University Alpert Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Providence, Rhode IslandBackground: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), 45% of deaths could be addressed by implementation of an emergency medical services (EMS) system. Prehospital care is a critical component of EMS worldwide, and basic, affordable training has been shown to improve EMS systems. However, patient outcome impact is unclear. In this study we aimed to assess the current state of prehospital care in Kigali, Rwanda, through a needs assessment, focused training intervention, and analysis of current practices and patient outcomes. Methods: We identified 30 clinicians through the prehospital medical command office and included them in the study. A prospective, nonrandomized, interrupted time-series approach was used. Data collected through closed- and open-ended questionnaires included age, sex, training, and knowledge assessment. We used the data to create a tailored, 18-hour training after which immediate and 11-month post-tests were administered. Linked prehospital and hospital care datasets allowed for evaluation of patient outcomes and prehospital process indicators that included training skill application, airway intervention, intravenous fluid administration, and glucose administration. Results: Of 30 clinicians, 18 (60%) were female, 19 were nurses, and 11 were nurse anaesthetists. Median age was 36, and median years providing care was 10 (IQR 7–11). Twenty-four (80%) participants completed immediate and post-test assessments. Mean knowledge across 12 core skills significantly improved from a pre-test mean of 59.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 42.2–77.20) to a post-test mean of 87.8% (95% CI 74.7–100). At 11 months post-training, the score improvement maintained, with a mean score of 77.6% (95% CI 59.2–96.8). For patient outcomes, the total sample size was 572 patients; 324 of these patients were transported to the ED during the pre-training period (56.4%), while 248 were transported post-training. Prehospital oxygen administration for patients with a saturation level of <95% significantly increased pre- to post-training (66.7% to 71.7%; Δ = 5.0%; Δ95% CI 1.9,−8.1%). No significant changes were noted in patient treatment outcomes or other process indicators due to small sample sizes. Conclusion: This study provides insights on Rwandan EMS and demonstrates that a tailored intervention targeting education on prehospital process indicators has positive impacts on clinician knowledge and practice.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/04c416xm |
| spellingShingle | Naz Karim Jeanne D’Arc Nyinawankusi Mikaela S. Belsky Pascal Mugemangango Zeta Mutabazi Catalina Gonzalez Marques Angela Y. Zhang Janette Baird Jean Marie Uwitonze Adam C. Levine Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda |
| title_full | Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda |
| title_short | Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda |
| title_sort | needs assessment and tailored training pilot for emergency care clinicians in the prehospital setting in rwanda |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/04c416xm |
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