Development, implementation and outcomes of a training program for responders to acts of terrorism.

Introduction: Responding to acts of terrorism requires the effective use of public-safety and medical-response resources. The knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to respond to future threats is unfamiliar to most emergency responders.
Objectives: The purpose of this report to describe the development, implementation and evaluation of a multidisciplinary, interactive and simulation-enhanced course to prepare responders to acts of terrorism.
Methods: We used a 5-step systematic process to develop a blended-learning, simulation-enhanced training program. Learners completed a self-confidence questionnaire and written examination prior to the course and a self-confidence questionnaire, written examination and course evaluation when they finished the course.
Results: From July 7, 2003 to March 8, 2005, 497 consenting learners completed the course. After course completion, learners demonstrated significant increases in their knowledge of terrorism response (t = -64.3, df = 496, p < 0.05) and their confidence in responding to terrorist events (t = -45.5, df = 496, p < 0.05). Learner feedback about the course was highly positive.
Conclusions: We successfully implemented a two-day course for professionals likely to respond to terrorist acts that included scenario-based performance training and assessment. Course participants increased their knowledge and were more confident in their ability to respond to acts of terrorism after participating in this course.