(P1-73) Medical CBRN Training for Military Health Staff and Its Benefits

Abstract

Objective

The increasing threat of the use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents requires significant military medical preparedness and response, including training. The initiatives for CBRN training by Gulhane Military Medical Academy, which is under the Health Command of the Turkish Armed Forces, will be discussed, and the training program and educational model for medical CBRN defense will be highlighted.

Method

The training is given to military hospital staff once or twice a year. Hospital staff is trained over a period of five days, with practical issues regarding medical CBRN defense covered during the last two days. A questionnaire is given to trainees at the beginning and at the end to ascertain the adequacy of the course.

Results

So far, this medical CBRN training has been given to 150 military health staff including physicians, nurses, and medical non-commissioned officers. According to the survey, they benefited greatly from this training, and there was a statistically significant increase in CBRN knowledge when the initial and final scores of the survey were compared (x² = 3.089; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Through this planned trainings, staff are trying to become well-trained in detection, personal protection, decontamination, and the organization aspects of CBRN defense to apply the proper prophylactic measures, diagnosis, and treatment. Feedback suggests this program also helped “train the trainers”, providing extensive information to other staff working in military hospitals.