Trauma Awareness and Education in Lebanon: An Exploratory Study

Trauma is considered nowadays a leading cause of death worldwide. It is a known fact that tens of millions of people are injured or disabled every year; children, pedestrians, cyclists and the elderly are among the most vulnerable of road users. However, research supports the fact that a better management of ‘Trauma' patients leads to an increase in the survival rates and a decrease in morbidity and mortality. In an effort to lessen the burden of death and disability from injury, a spectrum of activities needs to be considered, ranging from surveillance and basic research to prevention programs, to ‘Trauma' management, among which prevention is the most prominent and vital. Furthermore, efforts are exerted to encourage the preventability of road traffic injuries and promote good practices related to helmet and seatbelt wearing, no drinking while driving, no speeding, and being visible in traffic. This paper elaborates on the importance of the primary care of the injured patients and more importantly, awareness and appropriate training of the health care providers. The purpose of this research is to assess the Lebanese healthcare providers' knowledge and opinion on ‘Trauma' education and training towards increasing the awareness of ‘Trauma' care in Lebanon, improving the education of the health care providers and standardizing the management of ‘Trauma' patients. A quantitative exploratory research is used utilizing a survey questionnaire as a basis for quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics and causal regression techniques. Research outcomes are to be used as a foundation for recommendations to the Lebanese public sector as well as to the private healthcare institutions so as to promote them to introduce better policies into ‘Trauma' management principles, and guidelines for more effective practices.