Disaster Education: A Survey Study to Analyze Disaster Medicine Training in Emergency Medicine Residency Programs in the United States

Abstract

There are a variety of educational tools used to teach Disaster Medicine in EM residencies today, with a larger focus on the use of lectures and hospital drills. There is no indication of a uniform educational approach across all residencies. The results of this survey demonstrate an opportunity for the creation of a standardized model for resident education in Disaster Medicine. Sarin RR , Cattamanchi S , Alqahtani A , Aljohani M , Keim M , Ciottone GR . Disaster education: a survey study to analyze disaster medicine training in emergency medicine residency programs in the United States. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(4):368-373.

Core Disaster Medicine Education (CDME) for Emergency Medicine Residents in the United States

“…While each residency program currently has a variety of resources that allow for differing teaching modalities and depth of exploration of DM topics, the most commonly taught competencies are patient triage and decontamination, both listed as high-priority topics in this review. 3 While there are many education programs and curricula developed for medical practioners, [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] a 2016 review of training opportunities indicates that there is not a standard, all-hazards DM training curriculum available for EM physicians who are not seeking to be expert-level practictioners. 16 This prioritized curriculum will allow residencies to focus on the most high-yield topics, ensuring EM residents across all programs are being prepared to the same standards and facilitating their designation as hospital leaders during disasters when the need arises.…”

“…2 A 2017 survey of United States EM residency directors indicates that while most training programs include some level of DM education, there is a wide variation in content, methodologies, and dedicated hours. 3 For this reason, many DM leaders have long recommended the development of a common set of core competencies in DM to be required of trainees that will help standardize training and practice in the field. In a study published in 2012, a consensus document addressed the need for basic educational competencies in DM across all fields, and produced a list of core competencies for medical personnel.…”

Improving Pediatric Administrative Disaster Preparedness Through Simulated Disaster Huddles

“…Low-fidelity and low-technology exercises include seminars, workshops, and tabletop exercises. 6 These discussion-based exercises are designed to familiarize participants with plans and procedures through facilitated discussion in an informal setting ("learning by discussing"). While discussion-based exercises require less organizational maturity and are less resource and cost intensive than full-scale exercises, they are still time consuming while offering lower physiologic and environmental fidelity and limited scope.…”

Video-Based Learning vs Traditional Lecture for Instructing Emergency Medicine Residents in Disaster Medicine Principles of Mass Triage, Decontamination, and Personal Protective Equipment

“…In addition, numerous federal and national guidance documents make disaster education a requirement for front-line hospital personnel such as Emergency Physicians 2 3 However, in a 2014 study, more than one-half of residents in Emergency Medicine reported that they believed they did not receive enough training in disaster medicine during their residency to feel competent 4 . Moreover, other studies have demonstrated poor understanding of disaster medicine concepts among practicing Emergency Physicians who have completed residency 5 .…”

“…2,3 However, in a 2014 study, more than one-half of residents in Emergency Medicine reported that they believed they did not receive enough training in disaster medicine during their residency to feel competent. 4 Moreover, other studies have demonstrated poor understanding of disaster medicine concepts among practicing Emergency Physicians who have completed residency. 5 Therefore, there is a clear need to improve and expand educational opportunities in disaster medicine for Emergency Physicians to enhance the readiness of the nation's emergency care systems.…”