The Knowledge of Emergency Medical Technicians of Prehospital Care Intensity Index of Spinal Cord Trauma in Ilam, Iran

Background: The knowledge of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) plays a crucial role in the prognosis of traumatic patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of pre-hospital care intensity index of spinal cord trauma amongst EMTs in Ilam, Iran.  Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on 98 EMTs based on census sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire on pre-hospital care intensity index of spinal cord trauma and were analyzed using SPSS 16.  Results: The EMTs’ knowledge of prehospital care intensity index of spinal cord trauma was %87.7 at advanced level and %15.3 at intermediate level, respectively. There was a significant relationship between technician’s knowledge score and such variables as their age, work record, overtime hours and number of missions(p˂0.05). Conclusion: EMTs needed more specialized information on spinal trauma. It was recommended to hold in-service training programs more precisely and consider the training of necessary skills that a majority of EMTs are in need of.