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Evaluation of a Disaster Preparedness Curriculum and Medical Students’ Views on Preparedness Education Requirements for Health Professionals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2024

Kayla Schilly ,
Madelyn Huhn ,
Joseph D. Visker  and
Carol Cox
Kayla Schilly
Affiliation:
Truman State University, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Kirksville, MO, USA
Madelyn Huhn
Affiliation:
Truman State University, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Kirksville, MO, USA
Joseph D. Visker
Affiliation:
Minnesota State University–Mankato, Department of Health Science, Mankato, MN, USA
Carol Cox*
Affiliation:
Truman State University, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Kirksville, MO, USA
*
Corresponding author: Carol Cox; Email: ccox@truman.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

In general, medical students perceive themselves as inadequately prepared to assist in disasters. This study evaluated the impact of a disaster preparedness curriculum and medical students’ views toward required preparedness education for health care professionals.

Methods:

A comprehensive disaster preparedness curriculum was evaluated on its effect on medical students’ views on preparedness education requirements, preparedness, and prior disaster training using self-report survey methodology.

Results:

Results provide evidence to support curricular effectiveness in significantly increasing initial participant views of health professionals’ education requirements, perceived preparedness for integrating professional roles into the emergency response system, and confidence in exposure risk assessment and triage skills. Most participants possessed limited recent prior disaster training and drill experience. Most interestingly, the majority consistently believed throughout the study that disaster preparedness training should be a medical license mandate.

Conclusions:

For those instructing current medical students in disaster preparedness, it is suggested that a curriculum be chosen that can create participant initial anticipation, awareness, and belief in the importance of and need for disaster preparedness training. Further investigation is recommended into the relationship between students’ perceived training importance and any future curriculum delivery efforts on behalf of required or mandatory preparedness offerings in continuing professional development.

Keywords

curriculumdisaster preparednessevaluationinterventionmedical student
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e8
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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