"The ABCs of AD": A prospective evaluation of the efficacy of an educational intervention to increase knowledge of autonomic dysreflexia management among emergency health care professionals

• Published in: The journal of spinal cord medicine 2016, Vol.39 (2), p.190-196
• Main Authors: Krassioukov, Andrei, Tomasone, Jennifer R., Pak, Melissa, Craven, B. Catharine, Ghotbi, Mohammad H., Ethans, Karen, Martin Ginis, Kathleen A., Ford, Michael, Krassioukov-Enns, Dmitri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Autonomic dysreflexia; Autonomic Dysreflexia - rehabilitation; Autonomic Dysreflexia - therapy; Continuing medical education; Disease Management; Education, Medical, Continuing; Emergency care; Emergency Medical Services - methods; Emergency Medical Services - standards; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel - education; Humans; Spinal cord injuries
• ISSN: 1079-0268; 2045-7723
• DOI: 10.1179/2045772315Y.0000000037

Context/Objective: Despite the availability of consensus-based resources, first responders and emergency room (ER) health care professionals (HCPs) have limited knowledge regarding autonomic dysreflexia (AD) recognition and treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of "The ABCs of AD" educational seminar for improving HCPs' short- and long-term knowledge of AD recognition, diagnosis, and management. Design: Multi-center prospective pre, post, and follow-up questionnaire study. Setting: Level I trauma centers with emergency departments in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. Methods: ER professionals completed measures immediately before and after (n = 108), as well as 3-months following (n = 23), attendance at "The ABCs of AD" seminar. Outcome Measures: AD knowledge test; seminar feedback. Results: Following the seminar, participants had higher ratings of their AD knowledge and had significantly higher AD knowledge test scores (M ± SD pre = 11.85 ± 3.88, M ± SD post = 18.95 ± 2.39, out of 22; P