Is There Any Difference Between Maneuver Simulation and Scenario Workshop Learning about Radiation Triage?

Abstract

Background: Very little information on maneuver simulations (MS) effectiveness in radiation triage (RT) training is currently available. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the effect of MS and scenario workshops (SW) on rescuers' learning of RT. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on rescuers in July 2020. For this purpose, two military medical centers were randomized into two groups, intervention (MS) and control (SW). The main tool was the researcher-made Radiation Triage Knowledge Questionnaire (RTKQ). In this respect, the pre-test was performed using the RTKQ questionnaire. The first post-test, two weeks following the intervention, was also done through the RTKQ and the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), and the second post-test was conducted four weeks after the intervention, only via the RTKQ. Results: In total, 30 rescuers with a mean age of 22 participated in this study. During the pre-test, the difference in knowledge between the two study groups (intervention and control) was not significant. In the first post-test, no significant difference was also observed in the levels of knowledge between MS and SW groups respectively (80.0 ± 8.9 vs. 79.3 ± 0.8), but the difference in skills between the study groups was significant (89.3 ± 10.3 vs. 61.3 ± 16.0). In the second post-test, there was a significant difference between the mean value of the levels of knowledge (76.0 ± 9.1 vs. 64.7 ± 10.9) and skills (written scenarios) (71.3 ± 9.9 vs. 54.0 ± 0.14) in two study groups. Conclusions: Both training methods improved RT knowledge and skills, but MT was more effective than SW in boosting and maintaining knowledge and skills up to one month after the intervention. The utilization of MS in RT training was also accompanied by greater effectiveness.