Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure (ABCDE) approach is a universal, priority-based approach for the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. Although the ABCDE approach is widely recommended, adherence in practice appears to be suboptimal. The...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-022-00753-y |
| _version_ | 1798004981240954880 |
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| author | Nino H. C. Schoeber Marjolein Linders Mathijs Binkhorst Willem-Pieter De Boode Jos M. T. Draaisma Marlies Morsink Anneliese Nusmeier Martijn Pas Christine van Riessen Nigel M. Turner Rutger Verhage Cornelia R. M. G. Fluit Marije Hogeveen |
| author_facet | Nino H. C. Schoeber Marjolein Linders Mathijs Binkhorst Willem-Pieter De Boode Jos M. T. Draaisma Marlies Morsink Anneliese Nusmeier Martijn Pas Christine van Riessen Nigel M. Turner Rutger Verhage Cornelia R. M. G. Fluit Marije Hogeveen |
| author_sort | Nino H. C. Schoeber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure (ABCDE) approach is a universal, priority-based approach for the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. Although the ABCDE approach is widely recommended, adherence in practice appears to be suboptimal. The cause of this non-compliance is unknown. As knowledge is a prerequisite for adherence, the aim of this study was to assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the ABCDE approach. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands. A digital multiple-choice assessment tool of the ABCDE approach was developed by an expert panel through a mini-Delphi method and validated by performing test item statistics and an expert-novice comparison. The validated test was sent to healthcare professionals (nurses, residents and medical specialists) of the participating departments: Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Emergency Department and the Neonatal, Paediatric and Adult Intensive Care Units. Primary outcome was the test score, reflecting individual level of knowledge. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis and ANOVA were used. Results Test validation showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.71 and an expert-novice comparison of 91.9% (standard deviation (SD) 9.1) and 72.4% (15.2) respectively (p < 0.001). Of 954 eligible participants, 240 filled out the questionnaire. The mean (SD) test score (% of correct answers) was 80.1% (12.2). Nurses had significantly lower scores (74.9% (10.9)) than residents (92.3% (7.5)) and medical specialists (88.0% (8.6)) (p < 0.001). The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (75.9% (12.6)) and Adult Intensive Care Unit (77.4% (11.2)) had significantly lower scores than Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (85.6% (10.6)), Emergency Department (85.5% (10.4)) and Anaesthesiology (85.3% (10.6)) (p < 0.05). Younger participants scored higher than older participants (−0.30% (-0.46;-0.15) in test score/year increase in age). Conclusion Scores of a validated knowledge test regarding the ABCDE approach vary among healthcare professionals caring for critically ill patients. Type of department, profession category and age had a significant influence on the test score. Further research should relate theoretical knowledge level to clinical practice. Tailored interventions to increase ABCDE-related knowledge are recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:32:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20096f7eb91744a79e73c33fbaa3b765 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-227X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:32:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-20096f7eb91744a79e73c33fbaa3b7652022-12-22T04:23:43ZengBMCBMC Emergency Medicine1471-227X2022-12-012211910.1186/s12873-022-00753-yHealthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional studyNino H. C. Schoeber0Marjolein Linders1Mathijs Binkhorst2Willem-Pieter De Boode3Jos M. T. Draaisma4Marlies Morsink5Anneliese Nusmeier6Martijn Pas7Christine van Riessen8Nigel M. Turner9Rutger Verhage10Cornelia R. M. G. Fluit11Marije Hogeveen12Department of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s HospitalDepartment of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s HospitalDepartment of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s HospitalDepartment of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s HospitalDepartment of Paediatrics, Radboud University Medical Center Amalia Children’s HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Radboud University Medical CenterPaediatric Intensive Care Unit, Radboud University Medical CenterDepartment of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s HospitalDepartment of Anaesthesia and Pain, Radboud University Medical CenterDivision of Vital Functions, University Medical Centre UtrechtIntensive Care Unit, Radboud University Medical CenterRadboudumc Health Academy, Radboud University Medical CenterDepartment of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Amalia Children’s HospitalAbstract Background The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Exposure (ABCDE) approach is a universal, priority-based approach for the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. Although the ABCDE approach is widely recommended, adherence in practice appears to be suboptimal. The cause of this non-compliance is unknown. As knowledge is a prerequisite for adherence, the aim of this study was to assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the ABCDE approach. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands. A digital multiple-choice assessment tool of the ABCDE approach was developed by an expert panel through a mini-Delphi method and validated by performing test item statistics and an expert-novice comparison. The validated test was sent to healthcare professionals (nurses, residents and medical specialists) of the participating departments: Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Emergency Department and the Neonatal, Paediatric and Adult Intensive Care Units. Primary outcome was the test score, reflecting individual level of knowledge. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis and ANOVA were used. Results Test validation showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.71 and an expert-novice comparison of 91.9% (standard deviation (SD) 9.1) and 72.4% (15.2) respectively (p < 0.001). Of 954 eligible participants, 240 filled out the questionnaire. The mean (SD) test score (% of correct answers) was 80.1% (12.2). Nurses had significantly lower scores (74.9% (10.9)) than residents (92.3% (7.5)) and medical specialists (88.0% (8.6)) (p < 0.001). The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (75.9% (12.6)) and Adult Intensive Care Unit (77.4% (11.2)) had significantly lower scores than Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (85.6% (10.6)), Emergency Department (85.5% (10.4)) and Anaesthesiology (85.3% (10.6)) (p < 0.05). Younger participants scored higher than older participants (−0.30% (-0.46;-0.15) in test score/year increase in age). Conclusion Scores of a validated knowledge test regarding the ABCDE approach vary among healthcare professionals caring for critically ill patients. Type of department, profession category and age had a significant influence on the test score. Further research should relate theoretical knowledge level to clinical practice. Tailored interventions to increase ABCDE-related knowledge are recommended.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-022-00753-yABCDECritical careLife support careKnowledgeAssessment |
| spellingShingle | Nino H. C. Schoeber Marjolein Linders Mathijs Binkhorst Willem-Pieter De Boode Jos M. T. Draaisma Marlies Morsink Anneliese Nusmeier Martijn Pas Christine van Riessen Nigel M. Turner Rutger Verhage Cornelia R. M. G. Fluit Marije Hogeveen Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study BMC Emergency Medicine ABCDE Critical care Life support care Knowledge Assessment |
| title | Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the systematic ABCDE approach: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | healthcare professionals knowledge of the systematic abcde approach a cross sectional study |
| topic | ABCDE Critical care Life support care Knowledge Assessment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-022-00753-y |
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