A prospective, longitudinal, comparative analysis of the World Health Organization / International Committee of the Red Cross Basic Emergency Care Course on emergency
medicine knowledge and confidence
among recent medical school graduates
Dublin Core
Title
A prospective, longitudinal, comparative analysis of the World Health Organization / International Committee of the Red Cross Basic Emergency Care Course on emergency
medicine knowledge and confidence
among recent medical school graduates
medicine knowledge and confidence
among recent medical school graduates
Subject
Emergency medicine education, Training, Emergency care
Description
Abstract
Background The Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) in col-
laboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation for Emergency
Medicine (IFEM) to train frontline providers in low-resource settings. This study aims to evaluate long-term retention
and maintenance of emergency care knowledge and confidence among University of Nairobi School of Medicine
graduates after completing the BEC course.
Methods This longitudinal, prospective, comparative study was conducted with recent graduates of the Univer-
sity of Nairobi School of Medicine from October 2021 to May 2023. Participants’ retention of emergency medicine
knowledge was assessed comparing a pre/post course test and a multiple-choice examination 12 to 18 months
after completing the BEC course. A survey assessed participants’ confidence in managing patients with emergencies
12–18 months after completing the BEC course using a 4-point Likert scale. These results were compared to a control
group of recent University of Nairobi School of Medicine graduates who did not take the BEC course.
Results The follow-up test scores were lower than the immediate post-course test scores, which suggests some
knowledge loss over time. Compared to the control group, the BEC participants had higher test scores during the fol-
low-up period although the difference was not significant. There was no difference between most of the immedi-
ate post-course and follow-up survey responses. On follow-up evaluation, BEC participants reported a significant
decrease in confidence in understanding emergency drugs and managing an obstructed airway and a patient requir-
ing immobilization. However, compared to the control group, BEC participants had significantly higher self-reported
confidence in most areas assessed by the survey.
Background The Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) in col-
laboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation for Emergency
Medicine (IFEM) to train frontline providers in low-resource settings. This study aims to evaluate long-term retention
and maintenance of emergency care knowledge and confidence among University of Nairobi School of Medicine
graduates after completing the BEC course.
Methods This longitudinal, prospective, comparative study was conducted with recent graduates of the Univer-
sity of Nairobi School of Medicine from October 2021 to May 2023. Participants’ retention of emergency medicine
knowledge was assessed comparing a pre/post course test and a multiple-choice examination 12 to 18 months
after completing the BEC course. A survey assessed participants’ confidence in managing patients with emergencies
12–18 months after completing the BEC course using a 4-point Likert scale. These results were compared to a control
group of recent University of Nairobi School of Medicine graduates who did not take the BEC course.
Results The follow-up test scores were lower than the immediate post-course test scores, which suggests some
knowledge loss over time. Compared to the control group, the BEC participants had higher test scores during the fol-
low-up period although the difference was not significant. There was no difference between most of the immedi-
ate post-course and follow-up survey responses. On follow-up evaluation, BEC participants reported a significant
decrease in confidence in understanding emergency drugs and managing an obstructed airway and a patient requir-
ing immobilization. However, compared to the control group, BEC participants had significantly higher self-reported
confidence in most areas assessed by the survey.
Creator
Nichole Michaeli1
, Andrew Beck2
, Giovanna De Luca2
, Mary Gitau3
, Derek Lubetkin4
, Derick Ochieng5
,
Grace W. Wanjiku2 and Justin G. Myers6*
, Andrew Beck2
, Giovanna De Luca2
, Mary Gitau3
, Derek Lubetkin4
, Derick Ochieng5
,
Grace W. Wanjiku2 and Justin G. Myers6*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00797-w
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Collection
Citation
Nichole Michaeli1
, Andrew Beck2
, Giovanna De Luca2
, Mary Gitau3
, Derek Lubetkin4
, Derick Ochieng5
,
Grace W. Wanjiku2 and Justin G. Myers6*, “A prospective, longitudinal, comparative analysis of the World Health Organization / International Committee of the Red Cross Basic Emergency Care Course on emergency
medicine knowledge and confidence
among recent medical school graduates,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12608.
medicine knowledge and confidence
among recent medical school graduates,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12608.