Development of Multiple Trauma Activation Training for Surgical Services

Background: Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) create a large influx of patients, are becoming more prevalent, and require adequate training for healthcare personnel. Multiple Trauma Activation (MTA)- specific protocols promote awareness and effective responses and increase access to healthcare. Intermountain Medical Center (IMED) in Murray, UT, needs an MTA protocol and MTA training material for surgical services. The lack of an MTA-specific protocol has the potential to impact patient care. This project aimed to develop an MTA protocol and training material for surgical services employees to increase their preparedness competency in response to a large influx of critical surgical patients during a MCI. Methods: This quality improvement project aimed to increase emergency preparedness of surgical services during a MCI. The Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire (EPIQ) is a validated tool to measure the emergency preparedness of nurses. We created an adapted EPIQ tailored toward surgical services. The pre-MTA training online survey included an adapted EPIQ, General Self-Efficacy Score (GSE), and participant demographics. MTA protocol and training material was developed with 23 content experts and presented to 70 surgical services employees. The post-MTA training online survey included the adapted EPIQ and training feedback of pilot MTA training. Results: Participants' competency level was increased after MTA training (p = <.001). Seventy employees attended the MTA pilot training; 61 provided demographic information, 60 completed the GSE, and 50 completed the pre-and post-EPIQ. GSE demonstrated a high self-efficacy score across all roles measured. Most participants identified time commitment for future training as a weekday workshop or a 2-hour lecture. The most preferred training modalities identified were face-to-face and simulation. Conclusion: MTA pilot training increased emergency preparedness competency for participants. More specific MTA role training is needed to ensure an efficient MCI response by surgical services.