TORCH: addressing the gap in training for ward based care of major trauma patients

Abstract

Introduction

A dedicated Major Trauma Ward (MTW) is core to the function of a Major Trauma Centre (MTC). MTCs are central to the hub-and-spoke model of an inclusive Major Trauma System (MTS). The implementation of the London Major Trauma System is heralded to have increased the in-hospital odds ratio of survival of traumatically injured patients by 19 %. There is no one universal definition of Major Trauma, but the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides the definition, “Major trauma is defined as an injury or combination of injuries that are life-threatening and could be life changing because it may result in long-term disability”.

Major Trauma is a disease requiring multidisciplinary and multi-specialty input at every stage of the continuum of care. However, there is no formal education for staff on a MTW on the care of these complex, severely injured patients.

The Trauma ORchestration of Continuing Healthcare (TORCH) course was established in 2018 to help to address this educational void. The aims of this paper are to describe the rationale for the course, report the feedback, and identify key strengths and areas for improvement.

Methods

A mixed methods study was undertaken with simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics of quantitative data was undertaken to describe delegate demographics. Thematic analysis of the 136 attendee responses to course feedback was performed. Course feedback was assimilated contemporaneously at the end of each course via online survey.

Results and Discussion

There was an 88 % (136/154) response rate to feedback. Attendees included 96 doctors, and 16 nurses and allied health professionals. The 2019 course of 24 delegates did not stratify participant demographics. The largest group of doctors (39 %) were Senior House Officer grade, with 41 % of all doctors coming from a surgical background.

Feedback themes identified as course strengths include the multidisciplinary curriculum approach. Speakers include Consultants from 12 different specialties and multiple therapists across the continuum of trauma care. Lectures based on real life case discussion was found to be an engaging and thought provoking medium of education with the focus on MTW based decision making commonly required of MTW junior staff.

Areas for future development include the continued delivery of the TORCH course outside of London and consideration of course validation for quality assurance, and a “train the trainer” model to allow for course expansion and sustainability in other MTSs of the UK and Ireland to implement formal, high quality education for staff on MTWs.