Abstract
Background
The provision of life-saving medical care in austere environments requires rescue team training in a simulated setting. Not every rescue organization has the capability to train in the field owing to weather, limited budgets, or schedule constraints.
Objective
We developed a competency-based curriculum for patient care providers using an indoor, easily reproducible, multiple patient environment. Two small group exercises were used that helped prepare teams before the multiple patient scenarios.
Methods
Interprofessional teams of 5 to 6 trainees were assessed during two environmentally challenging (ie, flood evacuation and infectious disease outbreak) emergency preparedness training scenarios. To prepare teams before the multiple patient scenarios, 2 small group exercises were developed: 1) a communications exercise utilizing a large cardboard puzzle of a disaster scene (cost, $30); and 2) a triage exercise with mock patients utilizing 60 small handheld toys (cost, $20). Individual and performance objectives were assessed. Before training, team members completed a 24-question knowledge assessment, a demographic survey, and a comfort level self-assessment. After training, trainees repeated the 24 questions, a self-assessment, and a course assessment.
Results
Of the 708 participants who completed the course between November 2011 and August 2014, 31.9% were medical students, 49.9% physicians, 7.2% nurses, and less than 1% each of emergency managers, mental health providers, EMS personnel, and law enforcement officials. Overall, 708 participants (100%), 509 (71.9%), and 243 (34.3%) completed the pre-test, post-test, and course assessment, respectively. The average percentage of correct answers between the pre-test and post-test increased from 46.8 to 76.3. Two hundred forty-two (99.6%) reported the course as relevant to care providers, and 241 (91.5%) highly recommended the course.
Conclusions
Our competency-based emergency preparedness training curriculum used innovative small group exercises to improve disaster team performance, and cost less than $50. Trainees improved their knowledge, and they highly recommended the course. The tools may serve disaster organizations lacking resources to train in the field.