A Comparative Analysis of the Needs of Firefighters and Paramedic Students for Training in Basic Medical Science Disciplines

Abstract

This study aims to facilitate measures to increase the on-site response capabilities of firefighters by suggesting an appropriate curriculum for the inculcation of basic medical science disciplines through Borich needs assessment and the Locus and Focus model analysis by defining the learning outcomes. A survey was conducted among 188 firefighters and 48 paramedic students the results showed a need for microbiology (2.10) and public health (2.07) for firefighters, pharmacology (4.64) and anatomy and physiology (3.82) for paramedic student. The priority subjects identified in the High-High dimension of the Locus and Focus model for firefighters included public health, microbiology, anatomy and physiology. The learning outcomes, based on the level of present acknowledgment, showed a significant difference between the required and current level in 42 and 37 items of the questionnaires for firefighters and paramedic students respectively (p < .001). The highest discrepancy in priority, based on the level of present acknowledgment between firefighters and paramedic students were in: “sterilization and mechanism of antibiotic action (4th vs. 31st),” “pathogenesis of viral infection (1st vs. 23rd),” and “prevention of diseases and health promotion (14th vs. 36th).” The priority for paramedic students was “receptor-mediated drug response (25th vs. 4th).” Given the difference in the priority level of need of basic medical science disciplines between firefighters and students, an appropriate curriculum for paramedic students that also reflects the needs of firefighters should be developed.