Identifying emerging hot spots of road traffic injury severity using spatiotemporal methods: longitudinal analyses on major roads in Ghana from 2005 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Although road traffic injuries and deaths have decreased globally, there is substantial national and sub-national heterogeneity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Ghana is one of few countries in Africa collecting comprehensive, spatially detailed data on motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). This data is a critical step towards improving roadway safety, as accurate and reliable information is essential for devising targeted countermeasures. METHODS: Here, we analyze 16 years of police-report data using emerging hot spot analysis in ArcGIS to identify hot spots with trends of increasing injury severity (a weighted composite measure of MVCs, minor injuries, severe injuries, and deaths), and counts of injuries, severe injuries, and deaths along major roads in urban and rural areas of Ghana. RESULTS: We find injury severity index sums and minor injury counts are significantly decreasing over time in Ghana while severe injury and death counts are not, indicating the latter should be the focus for road safety efforts. We identify new, consecutive, intensifying, and persistent hot spots on 2.65% of urban roads and 4.37% of rural roads. Hot spots are intensifying in terms of severity and frequency on major roads in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: A few key road sections, particularly in rural areas, show elevated levels of road traffic injury severity, warranting targeted interventions. Our method for evaluating spatiotemporal trends in MVC, road traffic injuries, and deaths in a LMIC includes sufficient detail for replication and adaptation in other countries, which is useful for targeting countermeasures and tracking progress.

Evaluating the prerequisites for adapting a paediatric nighttime telemedicine and medication delivery service to a setting with high malarial burden: A cross-sectional pre-implementation study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the prerequisites (demand, interest, feasibility) for adapting a paediatric nighttime telemedicine and medication delivery service (TMDS) to Ghana. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of households and associated healthcare providers was conducted in urban and rural Ghana. Households were identified through randomised geospatial sampling; households with at least one child <10 years were enrolled. Household surveys collected information relating to demographics, household resources, standardised case scenarios, recent paediatric health events, satisfaction with healthcare access, and interest in TMDS intervention models. Providers were identified by households and enrolled. Provider surveys collected provider type, hours of operation, services, and opinions of a TMDS model. RESULTS: A total of 511 (263 urban, 248 rural) households and 18 providers (10 urban, 8 rural) were surveyed. A total of 262 health events involving children <10 years were reported, of which 47% occurred at night. Care was sought for >70% of health events presenting at night; however, care-seeking was delayed until morning or later for >75% of these events; 54% of households expressed dissatisfaction with their current access to paediatric care at night; 99% of households expressed that a nighttime TMDS service for children would be directly useful to their families. Correspondingly, 17 of 18 providers stated that a TMDS was needed in their community; >99% of households had access to a cellular phone. All households expressed willingness to use their phones to call a TMDS and allow a TMDS provider into their homes at night. Willingness to pay and provider-recommended price points varied by setting. CONCLUSIONS: Prerequisites for adapting a TMDS to Ghana were met. A nighttime paediatric TMDS service was found to be needed, appealing, and feasible in Ghana. These data motivate the adaptation of a TMDS to urban and rural Ghana.

Emergency care with lay responders in underserved populations: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the individual and community health effects of task shifting for emergency care in low-resource settings and underserved populations worldwide. METHODS: We systematically searched 13 databases and additional grey literature for studies published between 1984 and 2019. Eligible studies involved emergency care training for laypeople in underserved or low-resource populations, and any quantitative assessment of effects on the health of individuals or communities. We conducted duplicate assessments of study eligibility, data abstraction and quality. We synthesized findings in narrative and tabular format. FINDINGS: Of 19 308 papers retrieved, 34 studies met the inclusion criteria from low- and middle-income countries (21 studies) and underserved populations in high-income countries (13 studies). Targeted emergency conditions included trauma, burns, cardiac arrest, opioid poisoning, malaria, paediatric communicable diseases and malnutrition. Trainees included the general public, non-health-care professionals, volunteers and close contacts of at-risk populations, all trained through in-class, peer and multimodal education and public awareness campaigns. Important clinical and policy outcomes included improvements in community capacity to manage emergencies (14 studies), patient outcomes (13 studies) and community health (seven studies). While substantial effects were observed for programmes to address paediatric malaria, trauma and opioid poisoning, most studies reported modest effect sizes and two reported null results. Most studies were of weak (24 studies) or moderate quality (nine studies). CONCLUSION: First aid education and task shifting to laypeople for emergency care may reduce patient morbidity and mortality and build community capacity to manage health emergencies for a variety of emergency conditions in underserved and low-resource settings.

Preventable Trauma Deaths and Corrective Actions to Prevent Them: A 10-Year Comparative Study at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of preventable trauma deaths in an African hospital, identify the potential effect of improvements in trauma care over the past decade and identify deficiencies in care that still need to be addressed. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel assessed pre-hospital, hospital, and postmortem data on 89 consecutive in-hospital trauma deaths over 5 months in 2017 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The panel judged the preventability of each death. For definitely and potentially preventable deaths, the panel identified deficiencies in care. RESULTS: Thirteen percent (13%) of trauma deaths were definitely preventable, 47% potentially preventable, and 39% non-preventable. In comparison with a panel review in 2007, there was no change in total preventable deaths, but there had been a modest decrease in definitely preventable deaths (25% in 2007 to 13% in 2017, p = 0.07) There was a notable change in the pattern of deficiency (p = 0.001) with decreases in pre-hospital delay (19% of all trauma deaths in 2007 to 3% in 2017) and inadequate resuscitation (17 to 8%), but an increase in delay in treatment at the hospital (23 to 40%). CONCLUSIONS: Over the past decade, there have been improvements in pre-hospital transport and in-hospital resuscitation. However, the preventable death rate remains unacceptably high and there are still deficiencies to address. This study also demonstrates that preventable death panel reviews are a feasible method of trauma quality improvement in the low- and middle-income country setting.

Skill and knowledge retention after training in cardiopulmonary ultrasound in Ghana: an impact assessment of bedside ultrasound training in a resource-limited setting.

OBJECTIVE: Brief training courses in bedside ultrasound are commonly done by visiting faculty in low-income and middle-income countries, and positive short-term effects have been reported. Long-term outcomes are poorly understood. We held a training course on a cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS) protocol over two separate 10-day periods in 2016. In 2017, 9-11 months after the initial training, we assessed skill and knowledge retention as well as perceived impact on local practice. METHODS: A written test using six clinical vignettes and an observed structured clinical examination were used to assess theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Additionally, in-person interviews and a written survey were completed with the physicians who had participated in the initial training. RESULTS: All 20 participants passed the written and clinical examination. The median follow-up test score was 10 out of 12, compared with a median score of 12 on a test completed immediately after the initial training. Physicians identified the ability to narrow their differential diagnosis and to initiate critical interventions earlier than without ultrasound as a key benefit of the CPUS training. They rated the cardiac, abdominal and inferior vena cava components of the CPUS protocol as most relevant to their everyday practice. CONCLUSION: Long-term ultrasound knowledge and skill retention was high after a brief and intensive training intervention at an academic tertiary hospital in Ghana. Clinicians reported improvements in patient care and local practice patterns.

Cardiopulmonary ultrasound for critically ill adults improves diagnostic accuracy in a resource-limited setting: the AFRICA trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS) examination on diagnostic accuracy for critically ill patients in a resource-limited setting. METHODS: Approximately half of the emergency medicine resident physicians at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana, were trained in a CPUS protocol. Adult patients triaged to the resuscitation area of the emergency department (ED) were enrolled if they exhibited signs or symptoms of shock or respiratory distress. Patients were assigned to the intervention group if their treating physician had completed the CPUS training. The physician's initial diagnostic impression was recorded immediately after the history and physical examination in the control group, and after an added CPUS examination in the intervention group. This was compared to a standardised final diagnosis derived from post hoc chart review of the patient's care at 24 h by two blinded, independent reviewers using a clearly defined and systematic process. Secondary outcomes were 24-h mortality and use of IV fluids, diuretics, vasopressors and bronchodilators. RESULTS: Of 890 patients presenting during the study period, 502 were assessed for eligibility, and 180 patients were enrolled. Diagnostic accuracy was higher for patients who received the CPUS examination (71.9% vs. 57.1%, Δ 14.8% [CI 0.5%, 28.4%]). This effect was particularly pronounced for patients with a 'cardiac' diagnosis, such as cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure or acute valvular disease (94.7% vs. 40.0%, Δ 54.7% [CI 8.9%, 86.4%]). Secondary outcomes were not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In an urban ED in Ghana, a CPUS examination improved the accuracy of the treating physician's initial diagnostic impression. There were no differences in 24-h mortality and a number of patient care interventions.

Sustainable Resuscitation Ultrasound Education in a Low-Resource Environment: The Kumasi Experience.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) is an increasingly important tool for emergency physicians and has become a standard component of emergency medicine residency training in high-income countries. Cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS) is emerging as an effective way to quickly and accurately assess patients who present to the emergency department with shock and dyspnea. Use of POCUS, including CPUS, is also becoming more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, formal ultrasound training for emergency medicine resident physicians in these settings is not widely available. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of integrating a high-intensity ultrasound training program into the formal curriculum for emergency medicine resident physicians in an LMIC. METHODS: We conducted a pilot ultrasound training program focusing on CPUS for 20 emergency medicine resident physicians in Kumasi, Ghana, which consisted of didactic sessions and hands-on practice. Competency was assessed by comparing pretest and posttest scores and with an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) performed after the final training session. RESULTS: The mean score on the pretest was 61%, and after training, the posttest score was 96%. All residents obtained passing scores above 70% on the OSCE. CONCLUSION: A high-intensity ultrasound training program can be successfully integrated into an emergency medicine training curriculum in an LMIC.

A Novel Approach to Improve Time to First Shock in Prehospital STEMI Complicated by Ventricular Fibrillation.

Lethal cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) complicate up to 6% of all out-of-hospital STEMIs. Typically, paramedics respond to this by applying defibrillation pads and delivering a shock as soon as possible. A recently introduced "pads-on" protocol directed paramedics to apply defibrillation pads to all STEMI patients (regardless of clinical stability) with the aim of decreasing time to first shock. In this article we present two cases of prehospital STEMI complicated by VF to illustrate times to first shock for the two different protocols. One case each of a STEMI complicated by VF before implementation of the pads-on protocol and after the implementation of the protocol is presented. An important difference in the time to first shock is noted between the two patients with STEMI complicated by VF. While it took 2 min 43 s for the pads-off patient to be defibrillated, only 27 s elapsed before the pads-on patient was defibrillated. These two cases demonstrate that the application of defibrillation pads immediately following the diagnosis of prehospital STEMI has the potential to decrease the time to shock in patients suffering VF/pVT.

Governance and legal considerations supporting prehospital emergency care in low and middle-income countries-For the Special Series on Prehospital Care in LMICs.

The global imperative to expand prehospital emergency care in low and middle-income countries to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for time-sensitive health conditions is well established in academic literature and public policy discussions. However, the governance and legal frameworks essential for the strategic development of prehospital systems remain understudied and inadequately addressed. This paper delves into the critical role of governance in prehospital systems, emphasizing its impact on equity, human rights, and the provision of timely, quality emergency care. Health system governance, defined as a complex interplay of mechanisms, processes, and institutions, is a neglected yet pivotal component of prehospital care. By highlighting previously described barriers, we underscore the opportunity to strengthen prehospital care through improved governance, particularly in leadership and legislative standards. Drawing on the World Health Organization's Health System Building Blocks and the Emergency Care System Framework, we elucidate the multifaceted nature of governance in the prehospital context, including the coordination of diverse stakeholders, the establishment of standards, and the creation of accountability mechanisms. We emphasize the importance of applying a human rights perspective to governance, ensuring non-discriminatory and timely access to emergency care. Through the application of an established governance framework of 10 principles to assess prehospital system governance, we offer policymakers and stakeholders a structured approach to identify weaknesses, propose solutions, and evaluate progress in the prehospital system. To provide practical insights, we present a contemporary case study of Ghana's National Ambulance Service Act and the Health Institutions and Facilities Act of 2011, which establish a structured approach to governance and oversight while reflecting Ghana's commitment to advancing emergency care yet faces common challenges to operationalizing the laws. We advocate for a renewed focus on governance as an essential building block for effective prehospital emergency care. By providing a comprehensive framework and case study analysis, the paper offers actionable insights to guide policymakers and stakeholders in developing and evaluating governance initiatives that improve the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of prehospital care globally.

Generating consensus on road safety issues and priorities in Ghana: A modified Delphi approach.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of evidence-based approaches to reduce the substantial health, social, and financial burdens of road traffic injuries and deaths in Ghana and other low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) is vitally important. Consensus from national stakeholders can provide insight into what evidence to generate and which interventions to prioritize for road safety. The main objective of this study was to elicit expert views on the barriers to reaching international and national road safety targets, the gaps in national-level research, implementation, and evaluation, and the future action priorities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used an iterative three-round modified Delphi process to generate consensus among Ghanaian road safety stakeholders. We defined consensus as 70% or more stakeholders selecting a specific response in the survey. We defined partial consensus (termed "majority") as 50% or more stakeholders selecting a particular response. RESULTS: Twenty-three stakeholders from different sectors participated. Experts generated consensus on barriers to road safety goals, including the poor regulation of commercial and public transport vehicles and limited use of technology to monitor and enforce traffic behaviors and laws. Stakeholders agreed that the impact of increasing motorcycle (2- and 3-wheel) use on road traffic injury burden is poorly understood and that it is a priority to evaluate road-user risk factors such as speed, helmet use, driving skills, and distracted driving. One emerging area was the impact of unattended/disabled vehicles along roadways. There was consensus on the need for additional research, implementation, and evaluation efforts of several interventions, including focused treatment of hazardous spots, driver training, road safety education as part of academic curricula, promotion of community involvement in first aid, development of strategically positioned trauma centers, and towing of disabled vehicles. CONCLUSION: This modified Delphi process with stakeholders from Ghana generated consensus on road safety research, implementation, and evaluation priorities.

Prevalence and determinants of occupational injuries among emergency medical technicians in Northern Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are the primary providers of prehospital emergency medical services. The operations of EMTs increase their risks of being exposed to occupational injuries. However, there is a paucity of data on the prevalence of occupational injuries among EMTs in sub-Saharan Africa. This study, therefore, sought to estimate the prevalence and determinants of occupational injuries among EMTs in the northern part of Ghana. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 154 randomly recruited EMTs in the northern part of Ghana. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' demographic characteristics, facility-related factors, personal protective equipment use, and occupational injuries. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses with a backward stepwise approach were used to examine the determinants of occupational injuries among EMTs. RESULTS: In the 12 months preceding data collection, the prevalence of occupational injuries among EMTs was 38.6%. Bruises (51.8%), and sprains/strains (14.3%) were the major types of injuries reported among the EMTs. The key determinants of occupational injury among EMTs were male sex (AOR: 3.39, 95%CI: 1.41-8.17), an absence of a health and safety committee at the workplace (AOR: 3.92, 95%CI: 1.63-9.43), absence of health and safety policy at the workplace (AOR: 2.76, 95%CI: 1.26-6.04) and dissatisfaction with health and safety measures at the workplace (AOR: 2.51, 95%CI: 1.10-5.71). CONCLUSION: In the twelve months before to the data collection for this study, the prevalence of occupational injuries among EMTs of the Ghana National Ambulance Service was high. The creation of health and safety committees, the creation of health and safety rules, and the strengthening of current health and safety procedures for EMTs are all possible ways to lessen this.

Authorship representation in global emergency medicine: a bibliometric analysis from 2016 to 2020.

INTRODUCTION: High-income country (HIC) authors are disproportionately represented in authorship bylines compared with those affiliated with low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in global health research. An assessment of authorship representation in the global emergency medicine (GEM) literature is lacking but may inform equitable academic collaborations in this relatively new field. METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of original research articles reporting studies conducted in LMICs from the annual GEM Literature Review from 2016 to 2020. Data extracted included study topic, journal, study country(s) and region, country income classification, author order, country(s) of authors' affiliations and funding sources. We compared the proportion of authors affiliated with each income bracket using Χ2 analysis. We conducted logistic regression to identify factors associated with first or last authorship affiliated with the study country. RESULTS: There were 14 113 authors in 1751 articles. Nearly half (45.5%) of the articles reported work conducted in lower middle-income countries (MICs), 23.6% in upper MICs, 22.5% in low-income countries (LICs). Authors affiliated with HICs were most represented (40.7%); 26.4% were affiliated with lower MICs, 17.4% with upper MICs, 10.3% with LICs and 5.1% with mixed affiliations. Among single-country studies, those without any local authors (8.7%) were most common among those conducted in LICs (14.4%). Only 31.0% of first authors and 21.3% of last authors were affiliated with LIC study countries. Studies in upper MICs (adjusted OR (aOR) 3.6, 95% CI 2.46 to 5.26) and those funded by the study country (aOR 2.94, 95% CI 2.05 to 4.20) had greater odds of having a local first author. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant disparities in authorship representation. Authors affiliated with HICs more commonly occupied the most prominent authorship positions. Recognising and addressing power imbalances in international, collaborative emergency medicine (EM) research is warranted. Innovative methods are needed to increase funding opportunities and other support for EM researchers in LMICs, particularly in LICs.

Assessing the appropriateness of blood transfusion among injured patients at a Ghanaian tertiary hospital: Time for clarity on the use of a scarce resource.

INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhage is an important cause of preventable injury-related death. Many low- and middle-income country (LMIC) patients do not have timely access to safe blood. We sought to determine the degree of appropriateness of blood transfusion among patients with injuries requiring surgical intervention at presentation to a tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of such patients presenting to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), from January 2015 to December 2016. Patients' hemoglobin levels at presentation were determined as the first record of hemoglobin after presentation and their receipt of blood transfusion was determined by explicit documentation in the chart. We defined appropriate blood transfusion practice as patients receiving transfusion when hemoglobin was equal or below a threshold, or patients not being transfused when hemoglobin was above the threshold. We considered both restrictive (hemoglobin ≤7 g/dL) and liberal (hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL) transfusion thresholds. RESULTS: There were 1,408 patients who presented to KATH with injuries that met inclusion criteria. Two hundred and ninety two (292) patients were excluded because of missing hemoglobin information. Four hundred and fifty eight (458;41%) patients received blood transfusion. Transfused patients had a higher mean age (38 vs 35 years) and were less likely to be male (62% vs 71%). Transfused patients underwent more external fixation procedures (28% vs 19%), trauma amputations (5% vs 1%) and trauma laparotomies (3% vs 1%). At a restrictive transfusion threshold (hemoglobin ≤7 g/dL), 20% of patients who needed a transfusion did not receive one and 39% of patients who did not need a transfusion received one. At a liberal threshold (hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL), 33% of patients who needed a transfusion did not receive one and 30% of patients who did not need a transfusion received one. Blood transfusion practice was inappropriate in 31%-39% of all patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that clearer guidelines for blood transfusion among emergency surgery patients are needed in Ghana and similar LMICs to avoid inappropriate use of blood as a scarce resource.

Establishing the Effectiveness of Interventions Provided to First Responders to Prevent and/or Treat Mental Health Effects of Response to a Disaster: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: This review systematically explores the current available evidence on the effectiveness of interventions provided to first responders to prevent and/or treat the mental health effects of responding to a disaster. METHODS: A systematic review of Medline, Scopus, PsycINFO, and gray literature was conducted. Studies describing the effectiveness of interventions provided to first responders to prevent and/or treat the mental health effects of responding to a disaster were included. Quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. RESULTS: Manuscripts totaling 3869 met the initial search criteria; 25 studies met the criteria for in-depth analysis, including 22 quantitative and 3 qualitative studies; 6 were performed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); 18 studies evaluated a psychological intervention; of these, 13 found positive impact, 4 found no impact, and 1 demonstrated worsened symptoms after the intervention. Pre-event trainings decreased psychiatric symptoms in each of the 3 studies evaluating its effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that there are likely effective interventions to both prevent and treat psychiatric symptoms in first responders in high-, medium-, and low-income countries.

White Paper on Early Critical Care Services in Low Resource Settings.

This White Paper has been formally accepted for support by the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) and by the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care (WFICC), put forth by a multi-specialty group of intensivists and emergency medicine providers from low- and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HiCs) with the aim of 1) defining the current state of caring for the critically ill in low-resource settings (LRS) within LMICs and 2) highlighting policy options and recommendations for improving the system-level delivery of early critical care services in LRS. LMICs have a high burden of critical illness and worse patient outcomes than HICs, hence, the focus of this White Paper is on the care of critically ill patients in the early stages of presentation in LMIC settings. In such settings, the provision of early critical care is challenged by a fragmented health system, costs, a health care workforce with limited training, and competing healthcare priorities. Early critical care services are defined as the early interventions that support vital organ function during the initial care provided to the critically ill patient-these interventions can be performed at any point of patient contact and can be delivered across diverse settings in the healthcare system and do not necessitate specialty personnel. Currently, a single "best" care delivery model likely does not exist in LMICs given the heterogeneity in local context; therefore, objective comparisons of quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness between varying models are difficult to establish. While limited, there is data to suggest that caring for the critically ill may be cost effective in LMICs, contrary to a widely held belief. Drawing from locally available resources and context, strengthening early critical care services in LRS will require a multi-faceted approach, including three core pillars: education, research, and policy. Education initiatives for physicians, nurses, and allied health staff that focus on protocolized emergency response training can bridge the workforce gap in the short-term; however, each country's current human resources must be evaluated to decide on the duration of training, who should be trained, and using what curriculum. Understanding the burden of critical Illness, best practices for resuscitation, and appropriate quality metrics for different early critical care services implementation models in LMICs are reliant upon strengthening the regional research capacity, therefore, standard documentation systems should be implemented to allow for registry use and quality improvement. Policy efforts at a local, national and international level to strengthen early critical care services should focus on funding the building blocks of early critical care services systems and promoting the right to access early critical care regardless of the patient's geographic or financial barriers. Additionally, national and local policies describing ethical dilemmas involving the withdrawal of life-sustaining care should be developed with broad stakeholder representation based on local cultural beliefs as well as the optimization of limited resources.

Getting accepted - Successful writing for scientific publication: a Research Primer for low- and middle-income countries.

Clear and precise writing is a vital skill for healthcare providers and those involved in global emergency care research. It allows one to publish in scientific literature and present oral and written summaries of their work. However, writing skills for publishing are rarely part of the curriculum in the healthcare education system. This review gives you a step-by-step guide on how to successfully write for scientific publication following the IMRaD principle (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) with every part supporting the key message. There are specific benefits of writing for publication that justify the extra work involved. Any lessons learned about improving global emergency care delivery can be useful to emergency clinicians. The end result can lead to changing others' practice and pave the way for further research.

The state of emergency medical technician education in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: The National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides emergency medical services throughout Ghana and trains emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at the NAS Prehospital Emergency Care Training School (PECTS). Currently the majority of EMT training occurs primarily in a traditional didactic format. Students and faculty were interviewed to better understand their views of the current curriculum. Additionally, any barriers to integration of simulation-based learning were assessed. Following the interviews, the faculty was trained to conduct obstetric and neonatal simulations. The faculty was then observed introducing the simulations to the EMT students. METHODS: A standardized list of questions developed in consultation with an education expert was used to elicit student and faculty expression of opinion. Interviews were conducted in-person in small group settings. Training sessions were conducted in-person in large group settings. RESULTS: Students and faculty alike expressed pride in their work and 14/25 groups felt that teaching efforts were high. However, students verbalized concern involving their lack of rest (12/18) and the high volume of lectures per day (11/18). Both students and faculty felt limited by the lack of simulation tools (17/25), library resources (14/25), internet access (17/25), and infrastructure (20/25). All groups felt favorably towards the integration of simulation-based learning (25/25). CONCLUSION: The faculty and students of PECTS support the transition from a curriculum based on traditional didactic learning to one based on simulation learning.