Competency-based pediatric disaster training

Authors

  • Solomon Behar, MD
  • Rita Burke, PhD, MPH
  • Jeffrey Upperman, MD
  • Alan L. Nager, MD, MHA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2014.0137

Keywords:

disaster education, pediatric, training, competency, preparedness

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether participation in a competency-based pediatric disaster educational curriculum increases participants’ knowledge of how to manage pediatric disaster victims.
Design: Pretest/post-test intervention study.
Setting: Large, urban, academic tertiary hospital.
Patients/participants: Three hundred twentysix clinical and nonclinical healthcare employees.
Main outcome measure: Pre-educational and posteducational intervention scores on a 30-item pediatric disaster test.
Results: Participants without prior pediatric disaster training had significant improvements between pre-educational and posteducational intervention test scores (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Our competency-based pediatric disaster educational intervention improved the knowledge of most attendees, the majority of whom infrequently care for pediatric patients. This set of pediatric disaster competencies can be used in future formulation of a standardized curriculum.

Author Biographies

Solomon Behar, MD

Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Departments of Emergency Medicine (LAC + USC), Los Angeles, California; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine (CHLA), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Rita Burke, PhD, MPH

Senior Research Associate, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Jeffrey Upperman, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery, Trauma Program Director, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Alan L. Nager, MD, MHA

Director, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

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Published

01/01/2014

How to Cite

Behar, MD, S., R. Burke, PhD, MPH, J. Upperman, MD, and A. L. Nager, MD, MHA. “Competency-Based Pediatric Disaster Training”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 9, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 5-16, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2014.0137.

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2014): Winter

Section

Articles

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