NEWS Findings showed that post-crash first aid training improves the first aid knowledge and perceived skills confidence of traffic police officers. However, the transfer of first aid skills to workplace was limited by factors such as hierarchical structure in the police hindering junior officers to apply first aid skills and lack of first aid resources.
Menti Ndile, doctoral student at the Department of Nursing.
ImagePrivateThe overall aim of Menti Ndile's thesis was to evaluate the impact of a post-crash educational programme on traffic police officers’ first aid competencies and application at the workplace. The findings may be useful in updating the first aid training course offered to police officers so as to improve post-crash first aid knowledge and skill. The focus need to be on hands-on training and use of scenarios that mimic situation on the ground.
Furthermore the findings highlight challenges in police organization that need to be addressed to enhance transfer of trained first aid skills at workplace. The most important challenges include lack of resources for providing first aid such as first aid equipment and materials. Findings point the need of giving opportunity of junior officers with first aid training to use their trained first aid skills without hindrance from senior police officers with no training as a result of command system in the police.
To achieve the aim of the study, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Study I, questionnaires involving 340 traffic police officers. Study II, individual interviews with 12 leaders of traffic police unit and drivers’ associations. Study III, before–after questionnaires involving 135 traffic police officers. Study IV, focus group discussions involving 34 traffic police officers.
Menti Ndile comes from Tanzania. He has a Bachelor degree in nursing and master’s degree in critical care and trauma. He works as an assistant lecturer at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences at the department of clinical nursing.
Menti Ndile, Department of Nursing, defends 4 November 9.00 his doctoral thesis Improving initial care of road traffic injured people in Tanzania - Evaluation of a traffic police first aid education program. Faculty opponent Professor Petra Brysiewicz, School of Nursing & Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Principal supervisor Susann Backteman Erlanson.
