(A41) Perceptions of Military Medical Disaster Training

Abstract

Backgound

To be effective, disaster preparedness training should continually meet the needs of the trainees. Most military medical personnel undergo training focused on practicing in austere environments with little support. However, while located at their home station, disaster response is conducted in a different manner due to staffing and available resources. This survey attempts to identify areas of the military medical disaster response staff are most concerned with in order to better formulate future training for home station as well as contingency operations, ultimately increasing confidence and effectiveness.

Methods

An online survey service was utilized to anonymously poll 106 military medical personnel assigned to a joint Level 1 trauma center in Iraq using 38 forced Likert-scale questions. The training issue of most concern for both arenas is the patient surge. Military-civilian collaboration was a key point regarding the home station setting and supplies/equipment for the deployed setting.

Results

Eighty-nine percent of responders rated disaster training as moderate to very important. However, there was a low perception of disaster exercises conducted in the manner of a real-world event. This was attributed to unrealistic participation and training methods. Computer-based training (CBT) was identified as an ineffective method of training; hands-on instruction clearly identified as the preferred method. Participants rated considerable confidence in Level C personal protective equipment, and the majority surveyed would report for duty despite exposure risk.

Conclusion

Current training methods may not optimally produce disaster response effectiveness. Management of the patient surge was a repeating training concern for both home and deployed settings. Future training efforts should focus on military-civilian collaboration for the home station, and management of the patient surge for both arenas.