Titre
Swiss Mountain Guides: Medical Education, Knowledge, and Practice.
Type
article
Institution
UNIL/CHUV/Unisanté + institutions partenaires
Périodique
Auteur(s)
Métrailler, P.
Auteure/Auteur
Greiser, J.
Auteure/Auteur
Dietrich, G.
Auteure/Auteur
Walter, D.
Auteure/Auteur
Richon, J.
Auteure/Auteur
Walliser, M.
Auteure/Auteur
Wiget, U.
Auteure/Auteur
Sartori, C.
Auteure/Auteur
Liens vers les personnes
Liens vers les unités
ISSN
1557-8682
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2019-09
Volume
20
Numéro
3
Première page
251
Dernière page/numéro d’article
261
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Langue
anglais
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Résumé
Background:
Mountain guides work daily in remote areas and high-altitude locations where specific hypoxia-related and common medical problems may occur. Arrival of rescue teams can be delayed, so mountain guides often have to rely on their own capabilities to provide first aid. Therefore, IFMGA-recognized Swiss mountain guides receive a specific medical education and are equipped with a dedicated medical kit. This specific education has never been evaluated.
Methods:
A questionnaire was sent to all Swiss mountain guides through their national association. This questionnaire evaluates guides' activity, type, and frequency of medical events encountered, medical education, and use of the medical kit. Furthermore, clinical vignettes were used to evaluate their subjective and objective knowledge about prevention and treatment of specific altitude-related diseases.
Results:
A total of 467 guides completed the questionnaire, 54 (11.6%) of them were identified as high-altitude guides (HA-guides), because they spent ≥10 nights above 4000 meters each year. Mountain guides are more exposed to altitude-specific pathologies, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) than to general medical conditions. A majority of participants (in particular HA-guides) considered altitude-related medical knowledge essential but judged their own education as insufficient. A majority of mountain guides were aware of nonpharmacological preventive measures and able to recognize altitude-related diseases. Mountain guides declared themselves as very confident in treating altitude-related diseases. Objective assessment of their knowledge showed some gaps, in particular related to the use of specific medications like nifedipine and dexamethasone.
Conclusions:
Swiss mountain guides' education in altitude medicine may be improved, in particular concerning the recognition and treatment of severe conditions such as HAPE and HACE. Better knowledge may be especially important for HA-guides. These data have induced experts in the field to adapt the guides teaching curriculum and medical kit.
Mountain guides work daily in remote areas and high-altitude locations where specific hypoxia-related and common medical problems may occur. Arrival of rescue teams can be delayed, so mountain guides often have to rely on their own capabilities to provide first aid. Therefore, IFMGA-recognized Swiss mountain guides receive a specific medical education and are equipped with a dedicated medical kit. This specific education has never been evaluated.
Methods:
A questionnaire was sent to all Swiss mountain guides through their national association. This questionnaire evaluates guides' activity, type, and frequency of medical events encountered, medical education, and use of the medical kit. Furthermore, clinical vignettes were used to evaluate their subjective and objective knowledge about prevention and treatment of specific altitude-related diseases.
Results:
A total of 467 guides completed the questionnaire, 54 (11.6%) of them were identified as high-altitude guides (HA-guides), because they spent ≥10 nights above 4000 meters each year. Mountain guides are more exposed to altitude-specific pathologies, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) than to general medical conditions. A majority of participants (in particular HA-guides) considered altitude-related medical knowledge essential but judged their own education as insufficient. A majority of mountain guides were aware of nonpharmacological preventive measures and able to recognize altitude-related diseases. Mountain guides declared themselves as very confident in treating altitude-related diseases. Objective assessment of their knowledge showed some gaps, in particular related to the use of specific medications like nifedipine and dexamethasone.
Conclusions:
Swiss mountain guides' education in altitude medicine may be improved, in particular concerning the recognition and treatment of severe conditions such as HAPE and HACE. Better knowledge may be especially important for HA-guides. These data have induced experts in the field to adapt the guides teaching curriculum and medical kit.
PID Serval
serval:BIB_6B1AC2604737
PMID
Open Access
Oui
Date de création
2019-08-18T14:02:01.671Z
Date de création dans IRIS
2025-05-20T21:23:49Z