HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ FACTORS INFLUENCING TRAUMA CARE PREPAREDNESS IN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF SELECTED HOSPITALS IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to determine health care provider factor influencing trauma care preparedness among health care providers working in accident and emergency department of the selected hospitals. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional Analytic study. Census sampling was used to select General Practitioner hospitals. Systematic sampling technique was used to choose study participants from 11 selected hospitals. The study participants were 183 health care providers (Doctors, Clinical Officers and Nurses) working in the selected hospitals’ accident and emergency departments. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and observation checklists. Data was analyzed using statistical package for Social Science software version 22.0. Inferential statistics were used to test the strength of association. Findings; Health care providers’ factors that influenced trauma care preparedness were; specific training on trauma care (p=0.002), attending Continuing medical education (p=0.0008) and duration when last update was received (p= 0.04). Unique contributions to Theory, Practice and Policy: Trauma related training, trauma related continuing medical education and duration when last trauma update was received influence trauma. Health care providers working in accident and emergency department should undergo trauma related training and get frequent updates on trauma care.