Application of the BOPPPS-CBL model in pre-employment training for emergency ancillary staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Our emergency response team needed to quickly train newly recruited stretcher bearers and ambulance drivers to join the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our country, the absence of standardized pre-employment training programs for them has created an urgent need to develop an effective training method. We evaluated the efficacy of the bridge-in, objective, pre-assessment, participatory learning, post-assessment, and summary model combined with case-based learning (BOPPPS-CBL) and traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) by comparing the theoretical knowledge scores, operational skill scores, and satisfaction levels between the two training sessions in April 2022 and January 2023, which were designated as the LBL group and the BOPPPS-CBL group, respectively. Statistical comparisons confirmed the participants receiving BOPPPS-CBL achieved higher post-training theoretical examination scores. They reported greater perceived improvement in problem-solving, analytical thinking, teamwork, confidence in handling unfamiliar problems, and written communication skills. They perceived clearer learning objectives and the workload as more manageable. No statistically significant difference in post-training operational skill scores was observed. These findings provide preliminary comparative evidence supporting the feasibility of implementing BOPPPS-CBL in this setting and warrant further evaluation in other first-responder training settings.