Objective　To get well-informed of the current status of emergency training in primary hospitals in Sichuan Province and to find weaknesses in the system in order to provide scientific basis for emergency knowledge and skills training. Methods　A stratified random cluster sampling method as adopted and an anonymous questionnaire survey method was conducted to investigate the basic circumstances of the current training and the training needs of 1 000 emergency medical staff in 9 regions throughout Sichuan Province. Results　The scope of the survey covered emergency doctors

nurses and technicians in hospitals of Grade Ⅱ

Grade Ⅲ and below. A total of 1 000 surveys were sent out and 983 were recovered. The questionnaire completion rate was 98.3%. The respondents mainly worked for more than 10 years

most of which with Bachelor degree

junior and intermediate titles. Results of the survey showed

63.1% Most respondents have only one or two training opportunities per year. The training methods are mainly continuing education (59.0%

580 trips)

training organized within the unit (58.5%

575 trips)

and training organized by health administrative units (39.3%

386 trips). The main contents of the training are: basic professional skills learning (66.7%

655 trips)

basic professional theoretical study (59.2%

582 trips)

and new emergency technology (42.5%

418 trips). only 32.0% of the respondents believe that these methods meet the practical needs. The main factors that influence participation in the training were: not be arranged by employer (36.2%

356 trips); the training was different from actual work (31.6%

311 trips); no replacement for work so they couldn't join training (29.8%

293 trips). The survey showed that the most desirable way of training is: practical application (60.1%

591 trips) and the most desirable training content is: emergency first aid knowledge (73.7%

724 trips). There were significant differences in case discussion

technical observation

academic lectures

special study training and learning methods in hospitals of different levels (P<0.05)

but there was no significant difference in the choice of professional practice methods (P>0.05)

and the selection of training contents was in emergency first aid knowledge

general medical knowledge and prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. There was no statistical difference in the selection of training contents of knowledge

infectious disease knowledge and department management knowledge (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the choice of nursing knowledge training (P<0.05). Conclusion　The current situation showed a lack of first-aid knowledge and skills training for emergency personnel in Sichuan Province. The present situation of skill training can't satisfy the need of their desire to participate in training. It is urgent to develop a standardized

systematic and scientific training mode to improve the emergency first aid ability of primary medical and emergency personnel.