Education and Training of Australian Disaster Medical Assistance Team Members: Results of a National Survey

Abstract

Introduction:Calls for disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) are likely to continue in response to international disasters.Objective:As part of a national survey, the present study was designed to evaluate the education and training of Australian DMATs.Methods:Data were collected via an anonymous, mailed survey distributed via State and Territory representatives on the Australian Health Protection Committee, who identified team members associated with Australian DMAT deployments from the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami disaster.Results:The response rate for this survey was 50% (59/118). Most of the personnel had deployed to the tsunami-affected areas. The DMAT members were quite experienced, with 53% of personnel in the 45–55-year age group (31/59). Seventy-six percent of the respondents were male (44/58). While most respondents had not participated in any specific training or educational program, any kind of relevant training was regarded as important in preparing personnel for deployment. The majority of respondents had experience in disasters, ranging from hypothetical exercises (58%, 34/59) to actual military (41%, 24/49) and non-governmental organization (32%, 19/59) deployments. Only 27% of respondents felt that existing training programs had adequately prepared them for deployment. Thirty-four percent of respondents (20/59) indicated that they had not received cultural awareness training prior to deployment, and 42% (25/59) received no communication equipment training. Most respondents felt that DMAT members needed to be able to handle practical aspects of deployments, such as training as a team (68%, 40/59), use of communications equipment (93%, 55/59), ability to erect tents/shelters (90%, 53/59), and use of water purification equipment (86%, 51/59). Most respondents (85%, 50/59) felt leadership training was essential for DMAT commanders. Most (88%, 52/59) agreed that teams need to be adequately trained prior to deployment, and that a specific DMAT training program should be developed (86%, 51/59).Conclusions:This study of Australian DMAT members suggests that more emphasis should be placed on the education and training. Prior planning is required to ensure the success of DMAT deployments and training should include practical aspects of deployment. Leadership training was seen as essential for DMAT commanders, as was team-based training. While any kind of relevant training was regarded as important for preparing personnel for deployment, Australian DMAT members, who generally are a highly experienced group of health professionals, have identified the need for specific DMAT training.

What structural factors influencing emergency and disaster medical response teams? A comparative review study

“…[ 44 ] Designing a proper educational program for the response teams requires awareness of the learning needs, appropriate educational patterns, effectiveness of the existing programs, and amount of experience in preparing team members for deployment. [ 45 ] Different organizations and universities have developed customized disaster response training programs by making significant changes to curricula and content quality. [ 46 47 ] Nonetheless, lack of common standards concerning the design and application of education and training programs for the members is an obvious shortcoming.…”

Mental Well-being Considerations in Preparation for Disaster Health Care: Learning From Deployment

“…Working in the complexity of a multicultural and multidisciplinary team can be a stress factor in itself. The need for teams to train together pre-deployment has been expressed previously 12 and reflects the importance of social support expressed by humanitarian workers. 28 Elements identified as lacking in the pre-deployment preparation, such as communication, support networks, safety and security, stress management, and preventive mental well-being strategies, are found similarly to be so in previous research ( Table 1).…”

Logistic support provided to Australian disaster medical assistance teams: results of a national survey of team members

“…General equipment includes fuel cans, duct tape, spare bulbs, batteries and fuses, toolkit, tarpaulins and tools. All equipment must be tailored to the deployment environment with each team member able to use all equipment (39, 40). …”

“…While dedicated communications support is essential, and a common team element (20, 21), all team members need to be trained in use of communications equipment (40). Communications support also needs to consider documentation.…”