The Effectiveness and Benefits of Disaster Simulation Training for Undergraduate Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

Background: There is a growing recognition of the need for disaster management training for medical students in Saudi Arabia, but there is limited research on its effectiveness. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a disaster simulation training program for undergraduate medical students in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A disaster management simulation activity was conducted for 32 medical students. The students attended a 30-minute lecture about mass casualty incidents (MCIs) and completed a pre-simulation survey. They were then randomly assigned to one of three groups (performer, actor, observer) and asked to apply their skills to triage patients after a Level C MCI. A debriefing session was conducted using the plus/delta debriefing method. Then, the students completed a post-simulation survey.
Results: The results showed that after the simulation training the students’ self-confidence in their ability to respond to a disaster increased from 40.7% to 59.4% (p value < 0.01), to utilize incident command structure increased from 37.9% to 62.5% (p value < 0.01), to demonstrate START triage for victims of a disaster increased from 28.2% to 65.7% (p value < 0.01), and to apply safe search and rescue techniques increased from 40.7% to 59.4% (p value < 0.01). The students’ self-confidence in their ability to perform basic first aid skills also increased after the simulation.
Conclusion: The study findings suggest that disaster management simulation training can be an effective way to increase medical students’ self-confidence and preparedness for disaster response.