Article
Invitation for collaboration: Project: Development of a European consensus based educational framework for the discipline of disaster medicine and nursing
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Authors
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Matthias Lenz
- University of Hamburg, Unit of Health Sciences and Education, Hamburg, Germany
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Italo Subbarao
- Deputy Editor, Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL, USA
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Heinzpeter Moecke
- Asklepios Institute of Emergency Medicine Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| Published: | March 23, 2011 |
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Outline
Text
Background: In recent years, questions have been raised regarding the public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) for a range of disasters, including weather-related catastrophes, bio-threats and terrorism. Various instruments for measuring PHEP have been developed, most of them designed to assess capacity, which is however only one predictor of successful response; more important is the ability of the system to function in a coordinated manner. Critical is the measurement of the personnel’s competencies.
An array of competencies for diverse health professionals have been developed [1]. Recently, a working group of the American Medical Association (AMA) developed an educational framework based on systematic literature review, reports on recent catastrophes, and expert consensus (Delphi) [2]. The US-framework however can not be simply transferred due to substantial differences related to the European PHEP-systems.
Aim of the planned project is to develop a European educational framework for the disciplines of disaster medicine and nursing.
Material and methods: Core competencies across all professions involved in PHEP will be delineated utilizing a generic form (before US expert consensus) of the AMA competency set.
Consensus on which competencies are relevant will be achieved among European experts and stakeholders of all relevant disciplines using a multiple-stage Delphi process. Levels of discipline-specific proficiency will be defined using Bloom’s taxonomy of learning objectives [3].
Results: The new European educational framework for disaster medicine and public health preparedness will serve as a solid basis from which educators could devise learning objectives and curricula tailored to fit the needs of all health professionals in a disaster.
Conclusion: The framework will be applicable to a wide range of health disciplines, which are expected to perform at different levels (e.g. informed worker, practitioner, and leader) according to experience, professional role, level of education, or job function. The project would build and integrate previous efforts in competency development supporting a uniform framework for education and training for Disaster Medicine and PHEP.
References
- 1.
- Daily E, Padjen P, Birnbaum M. A review of competencies developed for disaster healthcare providers: limitations of current processes and applicability. Prehosp Disaster Med. 25(5):387-95.
- 2.
- Subbarao I, Lyznicki JM, Hsu EB, Gebbie KM, Markenson D, Barzansky B et al. A consensus-based educational framework and competency set for the discipline of disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008; 2(1):57-68.
- 3.
- Anderson LW, Krathwohl DR. A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. New York: Longman. 2001.
