Putting the Theoretical to Practical Use

Abstract

Introduction:

Managing an MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) can be a daunting task for emergency responders. Effective management can be a matter of life and death but can be directly impacted by the feelings of the incident commander.

Aim:

Students were trained to be incident commanders, then following the course were given a survey. In the days following the training, an MCI occurred involving a train full of passengers. The students were then given another survey to assess their readiness following the practical use of their studies.

Methods:

Students were given a survey to determine their mean level of confidence in managing MCIs prior to training, and following the training. Following the training, there was an increase in confidence. After the training, there was an MCI in which their theoretical knowledge was put to the test.

Results:

The pre-training self-efficacy mean scores of younger students (M=3.5, SD+0.23) increased after the training (M=3.8, SD+0.28) and rose even more following the presentation of the Turin train accident (M=4, SD+0.26). While a similar increase in self-efficacy was found among the more mature students post-training compared to the level prior to the training (M=3.7, SD+0.44 versus M=3.4, SD+0.56), the mean self-efficacy score of the mature students decreased following the presentation of the Turin train accident to the pre-training level (M=3.4, SD+0.51).

Discussion:

Mean scores of self-efficacy and confidence in managing MCIs were found to be higher among medical students that were previously trained in coping with MCIs compared to medical students who participated in such a training program for the first time.