Tracheostomy: evaluation of the medical resident’s knowledge

• Main Author: Cunha-Cabral, Diogo
• Publication Date: 2023
• Other Authors: Alves Carção, André, Marques Gomes, Pedro, Duarte, Delfim, Ferreira Penêda, José
• Format: Article
• Language: eng; por
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.2032
• topic: Otorrinolaringologia; Educação Médica; Traqueostomia; Otorhinolaryngology; Medical Education; Tracheostomy

Objective: To evaluate the medical residents’ knowledge of tracheostomy. Materials and Methods: We administered a questionnaire to medical residents to collect information about their training in tracheostomy during the medical course and contact with tracheostomized patients during internship (“Internato de Formação Geral” - IFG). Knowledge about tracheostomy was evaluated through eight multiple-choice questions. Results: We obtained answers f rom 132 participants, of which 74.2% responded that they had not received training in tracheostomy during the medical course and 49.2% reported having had contact with patients with a tracheostomy during IFG. The mean number of correct answers was 4.60 (standard deviation [SD]=1.283). Previous training and contact with tracheostomized patients during IFG were not significantly associated with a higher mean number of correct answers (p= 0.777 and p=0.218, respectively). Conclusions: Undergraduate medical education may have shortcomings regarding tracheostomy training, due to which newly qualified doctors have insufficient knowledge about this topic.