Author(s)

Jameel Ali^1*, Grahame Laurence², Danielle Bince¹, Curtis Legall³, Karla Georges³, Marc Alkhal³, Anjan Nanan³, Sunildath Jugool⁴, Rasheed Adam⁵, Melrose Yearwood⁵, Grace Herrera Fernandez⁶, Dave Harnanan⁷, Dilip Dan⁷, Jennifer Reece³, Anil Persad³

¹University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
²Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA, USA.
³School of Veterinary Medicine, University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
⁴Sangre Grande Hospital, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago.
⁵Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago.
⁶Costa Rica Trauma Program, San Jose, Costa Rica.
⁷Department of Surgery, University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.

Background: The Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) course which is aimed at improving penetrating trauma management skills is very challenging to conduct. We assessed the feasibility and potential impact of ATOM training in Trinidad and Tobago through the University of Toronto Global surgery initiative and its potential for improving penetrating trauma care in this developing country. Methods: Senior General Surgical trainees were randomly assigned to participate. Other participants consisted of: an experienced international ATOM course Director, one experienced ATOM instructor, an ATOM instructor candidate, an experienced ATOM veterinary medicine technologist, 2 veterinary medicine trainees, 8 senior general surgical trainees who completed the course using the 2 student to one faculty training model. Pre and post course self efficacy scores (a measure of confidence in surgical approach) and scores on multiple choice question exams (MCQ) were compared by paired t tests. The trainees completed 5-point Likert scales to assess different components of the course. Results: The course was successfully completed locally. Mean and SD self efficacy scores improved from 55.4 ± 18.5 to 80.5 ± 9.1 and MCQ improved from 63.0 ± 8.8 to 82.5 ± 9.6 (p < .001). Rating of lectures, procedures and general assessment by Likert scores ranked the experiences as very good to excellent. Conclusions: Based on trainee course performance and their evaluations, there was significant improvement in trauma skills, knowledge and attitude with enthusiastic support for continuing the program, to improve penetrating trauma care locally and extending this training to other parts of the Caribbean.

Trauma Teaching, ATOM Course, ATOM in Developing Country

Ali, J. , Laurence, G. , Bince, D. , Legall, C. , Georges, K. , Alkhal, M. , Nanan, A. , Jugool, S. , Adam, R. , Yearwood, M. , Fernandez, G. , Harnanan, D. , Dan, D. , Reece, J. and Persad, A. (2020) Launching the Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM), Course in Trinidad and Tobago. Creative Education, 11, 2570-2579. doi: 10.4236/ce.2020.1112189.