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Table 1 Didactic curriculum: subject areas and representative lecture topics (including participant lectures)

From: Addressing the immediate need for emergency providers in resource-limited settings: the model of a six-month emergency medicine curriculum in Haiti

Content area

Hours

Example lecture(s)

Burn, trauma, and orthopedics

14

• Orthopedic emergencies by extremity

• Non-accidental trauma

• Head and spinal trauma

• Abdominal trauma and hemorrhagic shock

Cardiology

10

• Congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock

• Dangerous chest pain: myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection

• ECG interpretation

Infectious diseases

10

• Intracranial infections

• Tropical diseases: malaria, dengue, and chikungunya

Gastroenterology

6

• Diarrheal illness, dehydration, and fluid resuscitation

• GI and intraabdominal surgical emergencies

Respiratory

6

• Approach to dyspnea

• Management of acute asthma and COPD

Neurology and psychiatry

5

• Status epilepticus and seizure

• Altered mental status and coma

• Acute psychiatric emergencies

Advanced life supporta

4

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support principles (ACLS)

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support principles

• Neonatal resuscitation

Toxicology and Environmental health

4

• Environmental emergencies: lightning, drowning, and electric shock

Imagingb

3

• Ultrasound in shock

Endocrine

2

• Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar syndrome

Hematology

2

• Sickle cell emergencies

Obstetrics and gynecologyc

2

• Vaginal bleeding in pregnant and non-pregnant patients

Renal

2

• Acute renal failure and hyperkalemia

Other pediatric topicsd

2

• Noninfectious neonatal emergencies

Principles of EM

1

• Approach to a patient in the ED

Dermatology

1

• Life-threatening rashes

Genitourinary

1

• GU emergencies: the urinary tract and penile pathology

Ophthalmology

1

• Ophthalmologic emergencies

  1. a In addition to the 4 h of advanced life support topics, 12 h of the topics classified by organ system above were on critical care topics, for a total of 16 h of critical care lectures
  2. b One hour of ultrasound training was optional for participants without any prior exposure to ultrasound
  3. c In addition, a lecture on trauma in pregnancy is classified under burn, trauma, and orthopedics
  4. d An additional 5 h of pediatric topics are classified by organ system, for a total of 7 h on pediatric specific topics