Nonclinical Core Competencies and Effects of Interprofessional Teamwork in Disaster and Emergency Response Training and Practice: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 395 - 402
• Main Authors: Peller, Jennifer, Schwartz, Brian, Kitto, Simon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.08.2013; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Canada; Collaboration; Cooperative Behavior; Critical care; Data analysis; Data collection; Disaster management; Disasters; Education; Emergency preparedness; Emergency Responders; Forest & brush fires; General aspects; Hospitals; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Literature reviews; Medical sciences; Original Research; Planification. Prevention (methods). Intervention. Evaluation; Professional Competence; Professionals; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative Research; Studies; Teams; Teamwork; Training; Canada; interprofessionalism; team; competency; disaster; Response; Professional practice; Disaster; Emergency; Disaster medicine
• ISSN: 1935-7893; 1938-744X
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2013.39

To define and delineate the nontechnical core competencies required for disaster response, Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) members were interviewed regarding their perspectives and experiences in disaster management. Also explored was the relationship between nontechnical competencies and interprofessional collaboration. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 Canadian DMAT members to explore how they viewed nontechnical core competencies and how their experiences influenced their perceptions toward interprofessonalism in disaster response. Data were examined using thematic analysis. Nontechnical core competencies were categorized under austere skills, interpersonal skills, and cognitive skills. Research participants defined interprofessionalism and discussed the importance of specific nontechnical core competencies to interprofessional collaboration. The findings of this study established a connection between nontechnical core competencies and interprofessional collaboration in DMAT activities. It also provided preliminary insights into the importance of context in developing an evidence base for competency training in disaster response and management. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1-8).