HCBE Faculty Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Military Medicine
ISSN
0026-4075
Publication Date
2014
Abstract/Excerpt
Objectives: Reducing preventable deaths because of uncontrolled hemorrhage, tension pneumothorax, and airway loss is a priority. As part of a research initiative comparing different training models, this study evaluated the reliability and validity of a test that assesses combat medic performance during a polytrauma scenario using live animal models.
Methods: Nine procedural checklists and seven global rating scales were piloted with four cohorts of soldiers (n = 94) at two U.S. training sites. Cohorts represented “novice” to “proficient” trainees. Procedure scores and a mean global score were calculated per subject. The intraclass correlation was calculated per procedure, with 0.70 as the threshold for acceptability. An overall difference among cohorts was hypothesized: Cohort 4 (proficient) > Cohort 3 (competent) > Cohort 2 (beginners) > Cohort 1 (novice) trainees. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and analysis of variance. Results: At Site A, intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 74% to 93% for 6 of 9 procedures. Cohorts differed significantly on hemorrhage control, needle decompression, cricothyrotomy, amputation management, chest tube insertion, and mean global scores. Cohort 4 outperformed the others, and Cohorts 2 and 3 outperformed Cohort 1.
Conclusion: The test differentiates novices from beginners, competent, and proficient trainees on difficult procedures and overall performance.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00247
Volume
179
Issue
1
First Page
42
Last Page
48
Funding Information
This work is supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under Cooperative Agreement Number W81XWH-11-2-0185.
NSUWorks Citation
Schmitz, Connie C.; Chipman, Jeffrey G.; Yoshida, Ken; Vogel, Rachel Isaksson; Sainfort, François; Beilman, Gregory; Clinton, Joseph; Cooper, Jimmy; Reihsen, Troy; and Sweet, Robert M., "Reliability and validity of a test designed to assess combat medics' readiness to perform life-saving procedures" (2014). HCBE Faculty Articles. 1105.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcbe_facarticles/1105
Comments
We thank COL Annette Hildabrand, Deputy Director, DoD Clinical Use Programs OSD/ASD R&E; COL Randall Anderson, AMEDD; Camp Bullis BCT-3 course personnel; Greg T. Rule, P.E. (ARA); MedSim CCTC team members: Mike Fite, Richard W. Bianco, Peggy Norris, Danielle Hart, MD, Cullen Hegarty, MD, Mary Ann McNeil, MA, EMT-P, Daniel Chan, PMP, and Rachael Chan.