Self-Efficacy Improvement for Performance of Trauma-Related Skills due to a Military-Civilian Partnership

Through a mixture of simulation and clinical work, assessment of the educational benefits of trauma training is possible. [...]recently, this educational benefit has not been extensively evaluated. Self-efficacy assessments were rated on a 1- to 20point scale that is based on previously published principles for self-efficacy assessments.2 The course consisted of Advanced Trauma Life Support/Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines-based lectures, skills stations, cadaver laboratory, a mixture of six artificial robotic and live model simulations involving trauma scenarios, and clinical hours during which students participated in the care of trauma patients at Saint Louis University Hospital and ancillary hospitals. Obtaining performance metrics from all medical personnel at home and in a deployed setting would be a monumental and nearly impossible task. Because direct measurement of individual or team performances in a deployed setting and comparisons to home station results are not yet practicable, metrics such as self-efficacy was used to quantify the effects of this training program and show improvement before deployment.