Incorporating Simulation Exercises Using Collaborative Tools into Disaster and Emergency Medicine curriculum—A Pilot Survey Among Saudi Arabian Professionals

Introduction: Disasters are sudden and unpredictable natural or human-generated events that can cause short- and long-term humanitarian and property losses, and environmental damage. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 notes that boosting education and training efforts in the field of disaster medicine is a crucial part of disaster risk reduction. Disaster training has become the core of disaster education since it raises awareness regarding the randomness of natural disasters and the nature and dynamics of the required medical management. This study evaluates the need for changes in Saudi Arabia’s current disaster and emergency management curriculum, incorporating disaster exercises and using the collaborative tool of CSCATTT (Command and Control, Safety, Communication, Assessment, Triage, Treatment, Transport). Methods: Several statements were presented among five experts in three rounds of the Delphi technique; thereafter, the statement was presented as a questionnaire among 128 professionals and practitioners in disaster medicine through a quantitative survey. Results: The results revealed that a high percentage of participants urged the necessity for several changes in the current Saudi curriculum of disaster and emergency medicine. According to the participants that the current curriculum does not cover essential knowledge in Command and Control, Safety, Communication, Assessment, and the roles of each individual and agency, needs to be enhanced by including several other aspects of disaster and emergency management, such as all risk management, internal and external communication, coordination, cooperation and collaboration in transport issues, teaching and training, and promoting multiagency collaboration and enable extracurricular activities. Conclusion: This study recommends continuous revision, development of the current curriculum in Saudi Arabia, and integration of collaborative tools, as well as the inclusion of disaster simulation using the same collaborative strategy. This study may be transferable to other developing countries.