Multiple victims incident simulation: training professionals and university teaching.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Trauma Care
• Emergency Medicine Simulation

Background:

• Undergraduate medical and nursing programs often lack sufficient training in managing Multiple Victims Incidents (MVI).
• Effective initial care during mass casualty events is critical for patient outcomes.
• Simulation-based learning offers a safe environment to practice complex emergency scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a teaching strategy utilizing Multiple Victims Incident (MVI) simulation.
• To assess student performance in the initial management of trauma victims within a simulated MVI.
• To identify areas for improvement in undergraduate MVI training.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, quantitative study design was employed.
• A realistic Multiple Victims Incident (MVI) simulation was conducted involving students and prehospital care professionals.
• Performance was evaluated using pre-established checklists and specific assessment criteria.

Main Results:

• The START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) method was correctly applied in 94.1% of cases.
• Primary assessment using the ABCDE mnemonic was completed correctly in 70% of instances.
• Specific interventions like oxygen supply (64.7%), bleeding control (70.6%), neurological assessment (70.6%), and victim exposure (70.6%) showed room for improvement.

Conclusions:

• Simulated environments enhance professional skills, particularly in under-trained areas like MVI management.
• Early, team-based training in MVI scenarios fosters critical thinking, integration, and communication.
• Simulation is a valuable tool for preparing healthcare professionals for chaotic mass casualty incidents.