Enhancing Knowledge and Confidence in Wilderness Medicine Through Virtual Education: Lessons From a National Boot...

Area of Science:

• Wilderness Medicine
• Sports Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Wilderness medicine (WM) is crucial for sports medicine fellows, traditionally taught in person.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual education platforms.
• This study assessed the efficacy of a virtual WM boot camp.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual wilderness medicine boot camp.
• To convert an in-person program into a national virtual educational opportunity.
• To assess improvements in comfort and knowledge regarding WM topics.

Main Methods:

• A virtual WM boot camp was developed and delivered.
• Participants included Primary Care Sports Medicine fellows and attendings in the USA.
• Pre- and post-surveys measured changes in comfort and knowledge over two years (2020-2021).

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in comfort and knowledge were observed across various WM topics.
• Both fellows and attendings reported enhanced understanding and confidence.
• The virtual format successfully delivered WM concepts nationwide.

Conclusions:

• Virtual WM education is an adaptable and effective alternative to traditional in-person training.
• This model offers a scalable solution for medical education, especially in post-pandemic scenarios.
• Virtual platforms can optimize medical training, enhancing accessibility and reach.