• A J Brooks, M Phipson, A Potgieter, H Koertzen, and K D Boffard.
• Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Eur J Surg. 1999 Dec 1;165(12):1125-8.

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of an educational symposium designed to improve compliance with universal barrier precautions by the use of video analysis of resuscitations.DesignProspective single blind analysis of data.SettingHospital Trauma Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa.Subjects100 severely injured patients who presented to the emergency room, divided into two study periods.InterventionsAn educational symposium held between the study periods, which focused on universal barrier precautions and the risk of occupational transmission of HIV.Main Outcome MeasuresCompliance with items of universal precautions; mechanism; Injury Severity Score and Revised Trauma Score.ResultsThere was a significant improvement in compliance from 48% to 74% after the symposium (p = 0.007), with specific improvement in the wearing of masks and visors. Initially there was poor compliance with universal precautions in severely injured patients, which significantly improved to 83% compliance (p = 0.0004).ConclusionVideo analysis of resuscitations is an effective audit and educational tool that allows analysis of compliance with protocol. The education symposium was effective in altering attitudes and behaviour towards universal barrier precautions.

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