On Shaky Ground: Learner Response and Confidence After Tabletop Earthquake Simulation

The aim of this study was to evaluate residents' confidence and attitudes related to management of earthquake victims during a tabletop simulation and 6 months after the intervention.

Pediatric residents from 4 training programs were recruited via e-mail. The tabletop simulation involved 3 pediatric patients (crush injury, head injury, and a nonverbal patient with minor injuries). A facilitated debriefing took place after the simulation. The same simulation was repeated 6 months later. A survey was administered before the simulation, immediately after, and after the 6-month repeat simulation to determine participants' self-rated confidence and willingness to respond in the event of a disaster. A 5-point Likert scale that ranged through novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert was used.

Ninety-nine participants completed the survey before the initial simulation session. Fifty-one residents completed the immediate postsurvey, and 75 completed the 6-month postsurvey. There was a statistically significant improvement in self-rated confidence identifying and managing victims of earthquake disasters after participating in the simulation, with 3% rating themselves as competent on the presurvey and 33% rating themselves as competent on the postsurvey (P < 0.05). There was a nonstatistically significant improvement in confidence treating suspected traumatic head injury as well as willingness to deploy to both domestic and international disasters.

Tabletop simulation can improve resident comfort level with rare events, such as caring for children in the aftermath of an earthquake. Tabletop can also be easily integrated into resident curriculum and may be an effective way to provide disaster medical response training for trainees.