Creative Education, 2020, 11, 2570-2579 https://www.scirp.org/journal/ce ISSN Online: 2151-4771 ISSN Print: 2151-4755 DOI: 10.4236/ce.2020.1112189 Dec. 10, 2020 2570 Creative Education Launching the Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM), Course in Trinidad and Tobago Jameel Ali 1* , Grahame Laurence 2 , Danielle Bince 1 , Curtis Legall 3 , Karla Georges 3 , Marc Alkhal 3 , Anjan Nanan 3 , Sunildath Jugool 4 , Rasheed Adam 5 , Melrose Yearwood 5 , Grace Herrera Fernandez 6 , Dave Harnanan 7 , Dilip Dan 7 , Jennifer Reece 3 , Anil Persad 3 1 University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 2 Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA, USA 3 School of Veterinary Medicine, University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago 4 Sangre Grande Hospital, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago 5 Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago 6 Costa Rica Trauma Program, San Jose, Costa Rica 7 Department of Surgery, University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago Abstract Background: The Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) course which is aimed at improving penetrating trauma management skills is very challenging to conduct. We assessed the feasibility and potential impact of ATOM training in Trinidad and Tobago through the University of Toronto Global surgery initiative and its potential for improving penetrating trauma care in this developing country. Methods: Senior General Surgical trainees were randomly assigned to participate. Other participants consisted of: an experienced international ATOM course Director, one experienced ATOM instructor, an ATOM instructor candidate, an experienced ATOM veterinary medicine technologist, 2 veterinary medicine trainees, 8 senior general sur- gical trainees who completed the course using the 2 student to one faculty training model. Pre and post course self efficacy scores (a measure of confi- dence in surgical approach) and scores on multiple choice question exams (MCQ) were compared by paired t tests. The trainees completed 5-point Li- kert scales to assess different components of the course. Results: The course was successfully completed locally. Mean and SD self efficacy scores im- proved from 55.4 ± 18.5 to 80.5 ± 9.1 and MCQ improved from 63.0 ± 8.8 to 82.5 ± 9.6 (p < .001). Rating of lectures, procedures and general assessment by Likert scores ranked the experiences as very good to excellent. Conclusions: Based on trainee course performance and their evaluations, there was signifi- How to cite this paper: Ali, J., Laurence, G., Bince, D., Legall, C., Georges, K., Alk- hal, M., Nanan, A., Jugool, S., Adam, R., Yearwood, M., Fernandez, G. H., Harna- nan, D., Dan, D., Reece, J., & Persad, A. (2020). Launching the Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM), Course in Trinidad and Tobago. Creative Educa- tion, 11, 2570-2579. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2020.1112189 Received: November 6, 2020 Accepted: December 7, 2020 Published: December 10, 2020 Copyright © 2020 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access