Presentation
Evaluating Situational Awareness in Mass-Casualty Incidents through Computer Based Training Simulator
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionIntroduction: Mass-casualty incidents occur when casualties exceed available medical resources. In pre-hospital settings, incident commanders (ICs) undergo training to develop their situational awareness (SA): perceiving cues (Level-1), comprehending implications (Level-2), and projecting outcomes (Level-3). This study integrates clinical and decision-making metrics to evaluate a computer-based simulator’s effect on the IC SA.
Methods: In a within‐subjects design, 24 participants completed three 15-casualty scenarios using the simulator. SA was measured via deterioration of casualties’ survival probabilities, frequency of treatment-queue reprioritizations, and frequency of team dispatches to the treatment area.
Results: Deterioration in survival probabilities was significantly reduced in scenario 2 (X ̃_2=0.25) and 3 (X ̃_3=0.24) compared with 1 (X ̃_1=0.34;P_value<0.001 for both). Frequency of treatment-queue reprioritizations was higher in scenario 2 (x ̃_2=8;P_value<0.01) and 3 (x ̃_3=9;P_value<0.001) than in 1 (x ̃_1=6). Frequency of team dispatches to the treatment area increased from scenario 1 (x ̃_1=1.5) to 2 (x ̃_2=3;P_value<0.05).
Discussion: Our results indicate that participants’ performance improved, reflecting enhanced perception of environmental cues (e.g., the arrival of new casualties), deeper comprehension of their implications (e.g., increasing the number of teams), and stronger projection of the potential consequences of failing to prioritize casualties appropriately for treatment.
Methods: In a within‐subjects design, 24 participants completed three 15-casualty scenarios using the simulator. SA was measured via deterioration of casualties’ survival probabilities, frequency of treatment-queue reprioritizations, and frequency of team dispatches to the treatment area.
Results: Deterioration in survival probabilities was significantly reduced in scenario 2 (X ̃_2=0.25) and 3 (X ̃_3=0.24) compared with 1 (X ̃_1=0.34;P_value<0.001 for both). Frequency of treatment-queue reprioritizations was higher in scenario 2 (x ̃_2=8;P_value<0.01) and 3 (x ̃_3=9;P_value<0.001) than in 1 (x ̃_1=6). Frequency of team dispatches to the treatment area increased from scenario 1 (x ̃_1=1.5) to 2 (x ̃_2=3;P_value<0.05).
Discussion: Our results indicate that participants’ performance improved, reflecting enhanced perception of environmental cues (e.g., the arrival of new casualties), deeper comprehension of their implications (e.g., increasing the number of teams), and stronger projection of the potential consequences of failing to prioritize casualties appropriately for treatment.
Event Type
Poster
TimeTuesday, October 14th5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
LocationRiverside East
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