Citation

Aljerian N, Omair A, Yousif SA, Alqahtani AS, Alhusain FA, Alotaibi B, Alshehri MF, Aljuhani M, Albaiz S, Alaska Y, Alanazi AF. J. Emerg. Trauma Shock 2018; 11(1): 42-46.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, INDO-US Emergency and Trauma Collaborative, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/JETS.JETS_67_17

PMID

29628668

PMCID

PMC5852916

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Saudi Board of Emergency Medicine (SBEM) graduates are involved in a 1-month rotation in emergency medical services (EMSs) and disaster medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in knowledge and attitude of EM residents after the introduction of the EMS and disaster medicine rotation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 32 3^rd-year SBEM residents. A pretest/posttest design and a five-point Likert scale were used. The data included a response to a questionnaire developed by EMS and disaster experts. The questionnaire was distributed on the 1^st day of the rotation and 45 days after. Satisfaction questionnaires were distributed after the rotation. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.

RESULTS: Twenty-five residents responded to the satisfaction survey (75%). The overall satisfaction with the course modules was high; the course content showed the highest level of satisfaction (96%), and the lowest satisfaction was for the air ambulance ride outs (56%). The results of the pre-/post-test questionnaire showed an increase of 18.5% in the residents mean score (P < 0.001). In the open-ended section, the residents requested that the schedule is distributed before the course start date, to have more field and hands-on experience, and to present actual disaster incidents as discussion cases. The residents were impressed with the organization and diversity of the lectures, and to a lesser extent for the ambulance ride outs and the mass casualty incident drill l. Seventy-one percent indicated that they would recommend this course to other residents.

CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: This study showed that a structured course in EMS and disaster medicine had improved knowledge and had an overall high level of satisfaction among the residents of the SBEM. Although overall satisfaction and improvement in knowledge were significant, there are many areas in need of better organization.

Language: en

Keywords

Attitude; disaster; emergency medical services; knowledge; residents