Introduction: Wilderness medicine is a specialized field of training focused on providing medical care in remote and austere environments. Training providers on the unique aspects and limitations of austere/wilderness scenarios. It encompasses a wide range of skills, including trauma management, environmental emergencies, and survival techniques. Practitioners must be adept at improvising and working with limited resources, making quick decisions, and managing patients until they can reach a higher level of care. Simulation promotes higher confidence in trainees, though little studied in wilderness/austere medicine. Methods: This study assessed the effect of outdoor simulation on emergency medicine learners using surveys surrounding aspects of austere medicine knowledge and comfort. Surveys were obtained before and after the 2-hour educational session and a 2-hour simulation. These included general wilderness medicine, temperature-related illness, mountain medicine, environmental exposures and emergencies, medical equipment planning, and patient splinting and extraction/evacuation. Surveys were conducted using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Results showed significant improvement across all areas, with average gains ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 points. The most substantial increases were noted in mountain medicine (1.2, 1.5), lightning strike management (1.2, 1.6), medical gear planning (1.6, 1.6), and medications for austere environments (1.6, 1.6). Participants also reported increased familiarity with poisonous plants and fungi (1.2) and improved comfort with splinting techniques (1.4). Overall, confidence in environmental medicine, wilderness planning, medical pack creation, patient management, and patient extraction or evacuation improved by an average of 1.5 points. Conclusion: The wilderness medicine training improved learners’ familiarity and comfort with various austere conditions and management. Mountain medicine, lightning strike management, medicine gear planning, and medications for austere settings were the areas that demonstrated the most improvement in familiarity and comfort in management. This training notably increased participants’ comfort and willingness to provide patient care in remote settings, underscoring the value of wilderness medicine simulation training.
Willet et al. (Sun,) studied this question.