Web-based training on weapons of mass destruction response for emergency medical services personnel

Abstract

Objective: To develop, implement, and assess a web-based simulation training program for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel on recognition and treatment of ocular injuries resulting from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attacks.Design: The training program consisted of six modules: WMD knowledge and event detection, ocular anatomy, ocular first aid (ie, flushing, cupping, and patching), and three WMD simulations (ie, sarin gas release, anthrax release, and radioactive dispersal device). Pretest, post-test, and 1-month follow-up test and a program evaluation were used to measure knowledge gain and retention and to assess the effectiveness of the program.Setting: New York State EMS.Participants: Four hundred and sixty-four individuals participated in the training program and all waves of the testing (86 percent retention rate).Main Outcome Variables: The effectiveness of the training intervention was measured using pretest and post-test questionnaires and analyzed using dependent t-tests.Results: Assessment scores for overall knowledge increased from the pretest (mean 15.7, standard deviation [SD] = 2.1) to the post-test (mean = 17.8, SD = 1.3), p = 0.001, and from pretest (mean = 15.7, SD = 2.1) to 1-month follow-up test (mean = 16.6, SD = 2.0), p 0.001. Ninety-two percent of respondents indicated that the program reinforced understanding of WMDs.Conclusions: This training method provides an effective and low-cost approach to educate and evaluate EMS personnel on emergency treatment of eye trauma associated with the use of WMD. Online training should also be supplemented with hands-on practice and refresher trainings.