The impact of advanced trauma life support course on graduates with a non-surgical medical background.

The aim of this study was to assess advanced trauma life support (ATLS) and combat trauma life support (CTLS) skills implementation among general practising physicians, its perceived utility in their routine daily practice as well as in their potential army combat assignments. One hundred and ten physicians, graduates of ATLS and CTLS courses, from the subspecialties of geriatrics, psychiatry and family medicine, were surveyed by telephone, to answer a specially designed questionnaire. The response rate was 82%. Professional distribution was: 6.6% geriatrics; 46.7% family physicians; and 46.7% psychaitrists. The number of trauma events treated by these physicians in their post-course practise was: geriatrics-three; family physicians-30; psychiatrists-18. We believe that a properly designed ATLS course, executed and applied to general practitioners, can be highly beneficial to trauma victims.