Results From an Evidenced-Based Curriculum Design With Innovative Simulators to Prepare Providers in Caring for Those...

Burn care and medical education have undergone dramatic changes. Trauma has over seven courses covering fundamentals, whereas burns has one. Our goal was to develop a course to meet the needs of healthcare professionals requiring more advanced burn management training. A survey was distributed to burn physicians, nurses, therapists, administrators, and survivors, to assess the perceived proficiency of those managing adult and pediatric patients. Procedure simulators were developed, and a course was designed and delivered. An after-course survey of participants captured how this course filled identified knowledge gaps. A total of 188 initial surveys were sent to individuals involved in burn care. A diverse pool of 109 individuals participated (58% response rate). Survey results by providers demonstrated the lowest self-rated proficiency scores at managing large pediatric burns and frostbite. Nonphysicians reported low proficiency in developing wound treatment algorithms, performing escharotomies, and aftercare/reintegration. Following rigorous curriculum development, the course was conducted, and after-course surveys noted students' improved understanding of managing burn injuries, ability to troubleshoot, confidence to manage patients, and their recommending the course to a peer. Providing quality care beyond the initial assessment and stabilization of a burn-injured patient requires additional skills and knowledge. Providers that are uncomfortable or challenged in providing this care may benefit from additional training. Initial data show that a course, such as this one, provides the education necessary to fill the most commonly reported gaps in knowledge and skills. Further work is being invested to develop disaster management skills, assessment components, and further determine course validity.