Abstract Background Exercises are an essential component of preparedness and should be used to enhance capability and contribute to continuous improvement. An exercise can be as simple as a planning group discussing an emergency plan or as complex as a major multi-agency event involving several organizations and participants. This study aims to identify and conceptualize quality indicators (QIs) influencing prehospital disaster exercises across structure, conduct, and outcome. Methods This research was conducted through a systematic review and searching of the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Thematic content analysis was used for data analysis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used for systematic search, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) was used for quality assessment of the final extracted articles. Results From an initial set of 3,083 articles, 10 high-quality studies were included for analysis. The quality indicators influencing prehospital disaster exercises were analyzed into 3 themes, 8 categories, and 21 subcategories. The primary themes and related main categories included: Exercise structure QIs (knowledge promotion and cognitive skills, supply of exercise hardware and software requirements and resources desirable management), Exercise conduct QIs (practical proficiency in essential skills and decision-making capacity), and Exercise outcome QIs (evaluation and reporting of exercise, promotion of managerial capabilities and competencies, and development of psychological capabilities). Conclusion The findings of this research present a knowledge framework that can help exercise planners in prehospital settings in designing scientifically sound and standardized exercises aimed at enhancing disaster response processes. Furthermore, the implementation and evaluation of both discussion-based and operation-based disaster exercises informed by these identified quality indicators can foster the development of knowledge and promote behavioral change among prehospital staff, and facilitate a standardized response to emergencies and disasters.
Aminafshar et al. (Thu,) studied this question.