Comprehensive Summary
This study evaluated whether a targeted educational intervention could improve police officers’ knowledge and skills in providing prehospital care to road traffic accident (RTA) victims in Southwestern Uganda. Investigators used a quasi-experimental, single-group pre–post design that enrolled 45 officers from multiple police stations in Mbarara City, with 42 completing the study. All participating officers had a minimum of six months of service. Participants underwent pre- and post-training evaluations using a validated knowledge questionnaire and a simulation-based skills checklist. The two-day training covered core prehospital competencies, including scene safety, airway and breathing support, haemorrhage control, spinal precautions, and fracture stabilization. Baseline mean scores were 50.7% for knowledge and 34.0% for skills, increasing by 15.4 and 46.4 percentage points, respectively, after training, with both improvements reaching statistical significance (p < 0.001).
Outcomes and Implications
Police officers in low- and middle-income countries frequently act as de facto first responders because formal emergency medical services are limited or absent. Strengthening their prehospital capabilities has meaningful clinical relevance, as timely airway management, hemorrhage control, and safe extrication can substantially reduce preventable morbidity and mortality among road traffic accident victims. This study demonstrates that a short, structured training program can produce significant and immediate improvements in both knowledge and hands-on skills, suggesting such models are feasible and impactful within resource-constrained settings. However, the findings are limited by the lack of long-term follow-up, the absence of patient-centered outcomes, and the single-group design. Larger studies evaluating retention of skills, behavioral changes at actual crash scenes, and downstream effects on injury severity and survival are needed before broad implementation. Until then, this work provides a strong foundation supporting the integration of targeted first-responder education into regional injury prevention and emergency systems strengthening efforts.