Evaluating the Impact of the In-Flight Medical Simulation Course on Emergency Preparedness in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Any health care provider, regardless of specialty, may be requested to provide care during an in-flight medical emergency. Therefore, there is a demand for a training program to equip all healthcare providers with the required knowledge and skills to be competent in managing in-flight medical emergencies. The in-flight medical emergency simulation course was designed to address this need, providing hands-on, interdisciplinary training that prepares healthcare professionals to respond effectively to medical emergencies in-flight. Methods: The IMES course is a one-day course conducted in the simulation training facility of Prince Sultan Aviation Academy in Saudi Arabia. It was inter-professional training between health care providers (from different specialties) and airline crew members. The course consisted of a didactic part and four medical simulation scenarios. Healthcare specialties represented among the attendees included physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, dentists, respiratory therapists, a clinical pharmacist, and medical students. Pre and post tests were administered to assess knowledge improvement and competency. Results: Over one year total of 155 participants attended the class and filled the pre- and post-tests. The results revealed that there is a significant difference in the scores of pre-tests (m=12.97, SD=3.52) and the scores of post-tests (m=16.18, SD=3.51); p=.000. There was a considerable raw gain score by an average of 14% as an improvement between the pre-test and the post-test. Those who provided an evaluation of the course showed a high overall evaluation score of around 95%. Conclusion: Simulation training can create a similar experience of the challenges that can be faced in real inflight medical emergencies. Opportunities for inter-professional training to manage in-flight medical emergencies remain limited; so, the value provided by this course is considered high. This program provides substantial value in preparing interdisciplinary teams to respond collaboratively and effectively to medical crises during flights, addressing a critical gap in existing medical training.