Comparison of three methods for teaching mechanical ventilation in an emergency setting to sixth-year medical students: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are significant differences between the tutorial, simulation, or clinical-case-based discussion teaching methods regarding the transmission of medical knowledge on mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter, open-label controlled trial was carried out using 3 teaching methods on mechanical ventilation: clinical-case-based discussion, simulation, and online tutorial. Voluntary students of the sixth year of medical school from 11 medical colleges answered a validated questionnaire on knowledge about mechanical ventilation for medical students before, immediately after, and 6 months after in-person training consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions, and 5 questions about the participants' demographic profile. RESULTS: Immediately after the test there was no difference between the scores in the simulation and clinical case groups,[15,06 vs 14,63] whereas, after some time, there was a significant difference in retention between the case-based and simulation groups, with the score in the simulation group 1.46 [1.31; 1.64] times higher than the score of the case group (p-value < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, an individual who had received more than 4 hours of information showed an increase of 20.0% [09.0%; 33.0%] in the score (p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, in comparison with other forms of training, simulation in mechanical ventilation provides long-lasting knowledge in the medium term. Further studies are needed to improve the designing and evaluation of training that provides minimal mechanical ventilation skills.

Comparison of three methods for teaching mechanical ventilation in an emergency setting to sixth-year medical students: a randomized trial

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are significant differences between the tutorial, simulation, or clinical-case-based discussion teaching methods regarding the transmission of medical knowledge on mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter, open-label controlled trial was carried out using 3 teaching methods on mechanical ventilation: clinical-case-based discussion, simulation, and online tutorial. Voluntary students of the sixth year of medical school from 11 medical colleges answered a validated questionnaire on knowledge about mechanical ventilation for medical students before, immediately after, and 6 months after in-person training consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions, and 5 questions about the participants' demographic profile. RESULTS: Immediately after the test there was no difference between the scores in the simulation and clinical case groups,[15,06 vs 14,63] whereas, after some time, there was a significant difference in retention between the case-based and simulation groups, with the score in the simulation group 1.46 [1.31; 1.64] times higher than the score of the case group (p-value < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, an individual who had received more than 4 hours of information showed an increase of 20.0% [09.0%; 33.0%] in the score (p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, in comparison with other forms of training, simulation in mechanical ventilation provides long-lasting knowledge in the medium term. Further studies are needed to improve the designing and evaluation of training that provides minimal mechanical ventilation skills.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Determinar se existem diferenças significativas entre os métodos de ensino tutorial, simulação ou discussão de casos clínicos relativos à transmissão de conhecimentos médicos sobre ventilação mecânica. MÉTODOS: Um ensaio clínico randomizado, multicêntrico, aberto e controlado foi realizado usando três métodos de ensino em ventilação mecânica: discussão baseada em casos clínicos, simulação e tutorial on-line. Alunos voluntários do sexto ano de medicina de 11 faculdades responderam a um questionário validado abordando o conhecimento sobre ventilação mecânica para estudantes de medicina antes, imediatamente após e seis meses depois do treinamento presencial, composto por 20 questões de múltipla escolha e cinco questões sobre perfil demográfico dos participantes. RESULTADOS: Imediatamente após o teste, não houve diferença entre as pontuações nos grupos de simulação e caso clínico [15,06 vs 14,63], ao passo que, após algum tempo, houve uma diferença significativa na retenção entre o baseado em caso e a simulação grupos, com a pontuação no grupo simulação 1,46 [1,31; 1,64] vez maior que a pontuação do grupo caso (p-valor <0,001). Na análise multivariada, um indivíduo que recebeu mais de quatro horas de informação apresentou aumento de 20,0% [09,0%; 33,0%] no escore (p-valor=0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Nossos resultados indicam que, em comparação com outras formas de treinamento, a simulação em ventilação mecânica proporciona um conhecimento duradouro a médio prazo. Mais estudos são necessários para melhorar o desenho e a avaliação do treinamento que forneça habilidades mínimas de ventilação mecânica.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of mechanical ventilation in urgent care among students in their last-year medical course in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of mechanical ventilation among final-year medical students in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted between October 2015 and October 2017 involving 554 medical students was carried out to develop a questionnaire for assessing knowledge on mechanical ventilation. Reproducibility was evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient, internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha, and construct validation was evaluated with a tetrachoric exploratory factor analysis. To compare the means of the competences among the same type of assessment tool, the nonparametric Friedman test was used, and the identification of the differences was obtained with Dunn-Bonferroni tests. RESULTS: The final version of the questionnaire contained 19 questions. The instrument presented a clarity index of 8.94±0.83. The value of the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.929, and Cronbach's alpha was 0.831. The factor analysis revealed five factors associated with knowledge areas regarding mechanical ventilation. The final score among participants was 24.05%. CONCLUSION: The instrument has a satisfactory clarity index and adequate psychometric properties and can be used to assess the knowledge of mechanical ventilation among final-year medical students in Brazil.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of mechanical ventilation in urgent care among students in their last-year medical course in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the knowledge of mechanical ventilation among final-year medical students in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted between October 2015 and October 2017 involving 554 medical students was carried out to develop a questionnaire for assessing knowledge on mechanical ventilation. Reproducibility was evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient, internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha, and construct validation was evaluated with a tetrachoric exploratory factor analysis. To compare the means of the competences among the same type of assessment tool, the nonparametric Friedman test was used, and the identification of the differences was obtained with Dunn-Bonferroni tests. RESULTS: The final version of the questionnaire contained 19 questions. The instrument presented a clarity index of 8.94±0.83. The value of the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.929, and Cronbach's alpha was 0.831. The factor analysis revealed five factors associated with knowledge areas regarding mechanical ventilation. The final score among participants was 24.05%. CONCLUSION: The instrument has a satisfactory clarity index and adequate psychometric properties and can be used to assess the knowledge of mechanical ventilation among final-year medical students in Brazil.

An evaluation of the professional, social and demographic profile and quality of life of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil and to evaluate their quality of life. METHODS: Both a semi-structured questionnaire with 57 questions and the SF-36 questionnaire were sent to research departments within SAMU in the Brazilian state capitals, the Federal District and inland towns in Brazil. RESULTS: Of a total of 902 physicians, including 644 (71.4%) males, 533 (59.1%) were between 30 and 45 years of age and 562 (62.4%) worked in a state capital. Regarding education level, 45.1% had graduated less than five years before and only 43% were specialists recognized by the Brazilian Medical Association. Regarding training, 95% did not report any specific training for their work at SAMU. The main weaknesses identified were psychiatric care and surgical emergencies in 57.2 and 42.9% of cases, respectively; traumatic pediatric emergencies, 48.9%; and medical emergencies, 42.9%. As for procedure-related skills, the physicians reported difficulties in pediatric advanced support (62.4%), airway surgical access (45.6%), pericardiocentesis (64.4%) and thoracentesis (29.9%). Difficulties in using an artificial ventilator (43.3%) and in transcutaneous pacing (42.2%) were also reported. Higher percentages of young physicians, aged 25-30 years (26.7 vs 19.0%; p<0.01), worked exclusively in prehospital care (18.0 vs 7.7%; p<0.001), with workloads >48 h per week (12.8 vs 8.6%; p<0.001), and were non-specialists with the shortest length of service (<1 year) at SAMU (30.1 vs 18.2%; p<0.001) who were hired without having to pass public service exams (i.e., for a temporary job) (61.8 vs 46.2%; p<0.001). Regarding quality of life, the pain domain yielded the worst result among physicians at SAMU. CONCLUSIONS: The doctors in this sample were young and within a few years of graduation, and they had no specific training in prehospital emergencies. Deficiencies were mostly found in pediatrics and psychiatry, with specific deficiencies in the handling of essential equipment and in the skills necessary to adequately attend to prehospital emergencies. A disrespectful labor scenario was also found; the evaluation of quality of life showed a notable presence of pain on the SF-36 among physicians at SAMU and especially among doctors who had worked for a longer length of time at SAMU.

An evaluation of the professional, social and demographic profile and quality of life of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil and to evaluate their quality of life. METHODS: Both a semi-structured questionnaire with 57 questions and the SF-36 questionnaire were sent to research departments within SAMU in the Brazilian state capitals, the Federal District and inland towns in Brazil. RESULTS: Of a total of 902 physicians, including 644 (71.4%) males, 533 (59.1%) were between 30 and 45 years of age and 562 (62.4%) worked in a state capital. Regarding education level, 45.1% had graduated less than five years before and only 43% were specialists recognized by the Brazilian Medical Association. Regarding training, 95% did not report any specific training for their work at SAMU. The main weaknesses identified were psychiatric care and surgical emergencies in 57.2 and 42.9% of cases, respectively; traumatic pediatric emergencies, 48.9%; and medical emergencies, 42.9%. As for procedure-related skills, the physicians reported difficulties in pediatric advanced support (62.4%), airway surgical access (45.6%), pericardiocentesis (64.4%) and thoracentesis (29.9%). Difficulties in using an artificial ventilator (43.3%) and in transcutaneous pacing (42.2%) were also reported. Higher percentages of young physicians, aged 25-30 years (26.7 vs 19.0%; p<0.01), worked exclusively in prehospital care (18.0 vs 7.7%; p<0.001), with workloads >48 h per week (12.8 vs 8.6%; p<0.001), and were non-specialists with the shortest length of service (<1 year) at SAMU (30.1 vs 18.2%; p<0.001) who were hired without having to pass public service exams* (i.e., for a temporary job) (61.8 vs 46.2%; p<0.001). Regarding quality of life, the pain domain yielded the worst result among physicians at SAMU. CONCLUSIONS: The doctors in this sample were young and within a few years of graduation, and they had no specific training in prehospital emergencies. Deficiencies ...

Risk factors for injury acute renal in patients with severe trauma and its effect on mortality.

UNLABELLED: The studies which associated acute kidney injury (AKI) and trauma emerged during the Second World War, and since then we have seen a progressive evolution of healthcare aiming at AKI prevention. However, establishing the risk factors for post-trauma AKI development remains crucial and may help reduce this complication. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at identifying risk factors vis-à-vis the development of AKI in patients with severe trauma and its impact on mortality. This is a retrospective study of 75 patients with severe trauma. Six were taken off because they arrived at the hospital past the point of resuscitation. METHOD: The variables considered were age, gender, trauma severity according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), trauma mechanism, mean blood pressure upon admission, fluid replacement in the first 24 hours, serum creatinine levels, use of nephrotoxic antibiotics, length of hospital stay, need for ICU admission and mortality. RESULTS: The prevalence of AKI in severe trauma patients was 17.3%, and the factors associated with ARF in this sample were Head Injury and GCS < 10. Mortality, length of hospital stay and the need for ICU were significantly higher in patients who developed AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of these risk factors is of paramount importance for the development of care strategies for patients suffering from severe trauma, for the prevention of acute kidney injury and the associated high mortality.

Fatores de risco para lesão renal aguda em pacientes com trauma grave e seus efeitos na mortalidade / Risk factors for injury acute renal in patients with severe trauma and its effect on mortality

Os estudos que relacionaram lesão renal aguda (LRA) e trauma surgiram durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial e, desde então, tem havido progressiva evolução dos cuidados para a prevenção da LRA. Entretanto, a determinação dos fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de LRA pós-trauma permanece crucial e pode ajudar a reduzir esta complicação. OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de LRA em pacientes com trauma grave e sua influência na mortalidade. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo com 75 pacientes incluídos por apresentarem trauma grave; seis foram excluídos por terem chegado ao hospital sem condições de ressuscitação. MÉTODO: As variáveis estudadas foram: idade, sexo, gravidade do trauma de acordo com Injury Severity Score (ISS) e Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG), mecanismo de trauma, pressão arterial média na admissão, reposição volêmica nas primeiras 24h, níveis séricos de creatinina, uso de antibióticos nefrotóxicos, tempo de internação, necessidade de internação em UTI e mortalidade. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de LRA em traumatizados graves foi de 17,3%, sendo que os fatores associados à IRA nessa amostra foram TCE, ECG < 10. A mortalidade, o tempo de internação e a necessidade de UTI foram significativamente maiores nos pacientes que desenvolveram LRA. CONCLUSÕES: A identificação desses fatores de risco é de suma importância para a formulação de estratégias de atendimento aos pacientes vítimas de trauma grave, visando à prevenção da lesão renal aguda e da elevada mortalidade.

The studies which associated acute kidney injury (AKI) and trauma emerged during the Second World War, and since then we have seen a progressive evolution of healthcare aiming at AKI prevention. However, establishing the risk factors for post-trauma AKI development remains crucial and may help reduce this complication. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at identifying risk factors vis-à-vis the development of AKI in patients with severe trauma and its impact on mortality. This is a retrospective study of 75 patients with severe trauma. Six were taken off because they arrived at the hospital past the point of resuscitation. METHOD: The variables considered were age, gender, trauma severity according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), trauma mechanism, mean blood pressure upon admission, fluid replacement in the first 24 hours , serum creatinine levels, use of nephrotoxic antibiotics, length of hospital stay, need for ICU admission and mortality. RESULTS: The prevalence of AKI in severe trauma patients was 17.3%, and the factors associated with ARF in this sample were Head Injury and GCS < 10. Mortality, length of hospital stay and the need for ICU were significantly higher in patients who developed AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of these risk factors is of paramount importance for the development of care strategies for patients suffering from severe trauma, for the prevention of acute kidney injury and the associated high mortality.

Loss of Consciousness in Injuries of the Extremities is an Alert to a Higher Probability of Death.

BACKGROUND: There are many published studies about loss of consciousness related to general trauma however works on loss of consciousness in respect to orthopedic injuries are scarce. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether loss of consciousness worsens the prognosis of patients with orthopedic injuries. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study of orthopedic traumas was performed in the university Hospital of Base in São José do Rio Preto. All accident victims with injuries of the extremities classified as Score 3 or 4 by the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) were included in this observational quantitative study. Patients with minor injuries and injuries that did not involve the extremities were not included. The association of loss of consciousness at the scene of the accident with evolution to death was investigated. The t-test, chi-squared and Fisher exact tests, and relative risk were used for statistical analysis. An alpha error of 5% (p-value ≤ 0.05) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 245 patients with ages between 13 and 98 years old and a mean of 45.4 years had extremity AIS scores of 3 or 4. Of these, significantly more men (170 - p< 0.001) suffered this type of injury than women (71). Thirty-six (14.94%) of these patients lost consciousness compared to 205 (85.06%) who did not lose consciousness. The total death rate in this group of patients was 5.39%; 9 (25%) of the 36 patients who lost consciousness and 4 (1.95%) of the 205 who did not lose consciousness died (Fisher exact test: p-value = 0.0001 and relative risk = 12,813 - 95% confidence index: 4,166 to 39,408). CONCLUSION: Loss of consciousness in patients with orthopedic injuries of the extremities is associated to a higher death rate.

Mortality associated with extremity injuries compared with other types of trauma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate one-month hospital mortality in victims with injuries of the extremities. METHODS: All accident victims admitted to the Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, during the period from July 2004 to June 2005, were evaluated in an observational study. Patients were classified using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Patients with severe injuries of the extremities (AIS 3-4) were compared with those without injuries or with minor extremity injuries (AIS 0-2). RESULTS: A total of 3489 accident victims were evaluated; 3244 (92.98%) did not suffer injuries or had minor injuries of the extremities (AIS 0-2) and 245 (7.02%) had severe injuries (AIS 3-4). Of the 245 patients with AIS 3-4 extremity injuries, 13 (5.31%) patients died, and of those without severe injuries to the extremities, 34 (1.05%) died (Fisher's Exact test P = 0.0000, relative risk 5.063, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.707-9.467). CONCLUSION: Patients with injuries of the extremities are at greater risk of death than accident victims with other types of trauma.

Prevalence of death due to pulmonary embolism after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism is an important cause of death affecting thousands of people worldwide. The current study aims to evaluate the prevalence of death due to pulmonary embolism after trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diagnoses of the causa mortis of all patients treated in the Accident and Emergency Department of Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, in the period from July 2004 to June 2005, were identified from autopsy reports to check whether pulmonary thromboembolism was involved. RESULT: A total of 109 deaths due to trauma were detected in this period with pulmonary embolism occurring in 3 (2.75%) patients. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary thromboembolism is an important cause of mortality in trauma patients and so prophylactic measures should be taken during the treatment of these patients.

Mortality in patients with loss of consciousness at the scene of trauma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate if loss of consciousness at the scene of an accident in patients with thoracic trauma classified by the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) as thorax >2 has a different outcome in respect to immediate hospital discharge, hospitalization, death and type of accident. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in the Regional Trauma Center of São José do Rio Preto. All patients with scores related to thoracic injury >/=2 were included in this study. Thus, 134 patients with penetrating and 231 with blunt thoracic injuries were evaluated. The chi-square, Fisher's exact and relative risk tests were utilized for statistical analysis with an alpha error greater than 5% (p < 0.05) being considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A significantly higher number of patients who lost consciousness (35-33.9%) died compared to those who did not lose consciousness (9-3.5%, Fisher's exact test: p < 0.0001) where the relative risk (RR) of death when an individual lost consciousness was 9.7 (95% CI: 4.8-19.4). In respect to the necessity of hospital treatment, those who lost consciousness were more commonly hospitalized (Fisher's exact test: p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The loss of consciousness at the time of trauma is a warning sign in patients with thoracic injuries whether associated with other types of injuries or not.

Rates of thoracic trauma and mortality due to accidents in Brazil.

AIM: To report on the causes of trauma, indexes of trauma, and mortality related to thoracic trauma in one region of Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed at the Regional Trauma Center in São José do Rio Preto over a 1-year period, from 1(st) July 2004 to 30(th) June 2005. We included all patients attending the center's emergency room with thoracic trauma and an anatomic injury scale (AIS) ≥ 2. We collected data using a protocol completed on arrival in hospital utilizing the AIS. We studied the types of accidents as well as the mortality and the AIS scores. Prevalence rates were calculated and the paired t-test and logistic regression were employed for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were a total of 373 casualties with AIS ≥ 2 and there were 45 (12%) deaths. The causes of thoracic trauma among the 373 casualties were as follows: 91 (24.4%) car crashes, 75 (20.1%) falls, 46 (12.3%) motorbike accidents, 40 (10.7%) stabbings, 22 (5.9%) accidents involving pedestrians, 21 (5.6%) bicycle accidents, 17 (4.6%) shootings, and 54 (14.5%) other types of accident. The severity of the injuries was classified according to the AIS: 224 (60%) were grade 2, 101 (27%) were grade 3, 27 (7.2%) were grade 4, 18 (4.9%) were grade 5, and 3 were (0.8%) grade 6. With respect to thoracic trauma, pedestrians involved in accidents and victims of shootings had mortality rates that were significantly higher than that of those involved in other types of accidents. CONCLUSION: Road accidents are the main cause of thoracic injury, with accidents involving pedestrians and shootings being associated with a greater death rate.

Prevalência e fatores associados à bacteremia nos portadores de colecistite aguda litiásica / Bacteremia - prevalence and associated factors in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de bacteremia e os fatores associados no período pré-operatório em portadores de colecistite aguda litiásica e analisar comparativamente as complicações e mortalidade nos pacientes com e sem bacteremia, que foram submetidos a colecistectomia de urgência. MÉTDODOS: Foram estudados, prospectivamente, 51 pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico de colecistite aguda litiásica. O sistema Bactec foi o método utilizado para a detecção de bacteremia. As médias dos grupos foram analisadas quanto às variáveis clínicas e laboratoriais, relacionando-as com a bacteremia. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de bacteremia no pré-operatório foi de 15,68 por cento, e a idade (p=0,024), a freqüência cardíaca (p=0,026), a freqüência respiratória (p=0,028), a creatinina (p=0,028) e a presença da SIRS (Síndrome da Resposta Inflamatória Sistêmica, p=0,016) associaram-se positivamente com a bacteremia. Nos portadores de bacteremia verificou-se um óbito, maior número de complicações gerais (p=0,045) e infecciosas (p=0,039) e maior tempo de internação (p<0,005). CONCLUSAO: Nessa amostra, utilizando-se o sistema Bactec, a prevalência de bacteremia foi considerável. Fatores clínicos e laboratoriais estão associados à bacteremia e a sua presença associa-se à maior gravidade dos pacientes e pior prognóstico em relação às complicações no pós-operatório nos portadores de colecistite aguda litiásica.

[Bacteremia -- prevalence and associated factors in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis]. / Prevalência e fatores associados à bacteremia nos portadores de colecistite aguda litiásica.

BACKGROUND: Bacteremia seems to increase the morbidity and mortality in clinical and surgical conditions, however the importance and factors associated with it during acute calculous cholecystitis are not well established. The purpose of this study was to determine pre-operative prevalence, associated factors and prognosis of bacteremia in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis submitted to an emergency cholecystectomy. METHODS: A prospective study of 51 patients with histological diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis was designed. The Bactec System was used to detect bacteremia. Mean results of clinical and laboratory analyses were related to the presence of bacteremia. RESULTS: The pre-operative prevalence of bacteremia was of 15.68%. Age (P=0.024), heart rate (P=0.026), respiratory rate (P=0.028), serum creatinine (P=0.028) and presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (P=0.016) were positively associated with bacteremia. Bacteremic patients had statistically higher overall (P=0.045) and infectious (P=0.039) complication rates and longer hospitalization (P<0.005) including one death. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute calculous cholecystitis have a considerable prevalence of bacteremia in the pre-operative period. It is associated with old age, heart rate, respiratory rate, serum creatinine and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In patients with acute calculous cholecystitis, presence of bacteremia may be associated to severity of the condition and poor outcome related to pos-operative complications.