The impact of an Emergency Medical Technician basic course prior to medical school on medical students

Abstract

Background: Previous research on Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programs as an early clinical experience indicates that medical students’ confidence in patient care and team-building skills increases with participation. However, very little is known about the unplanned, long-term effects of EMT courses on medical students once they enter medical school.Objectives: This study examined the immediate outcomes produced by the month-long summer EMT course and the unplanned outcomes that students reported 1 year later.Methods: Pre/postsurveys were collected on all 25 students who graduated from the EMT course offered before their first year. These survey data were analyzed using a paired-samples t test. A subset of students (N = 14) consented to taking a survey and be interviewed on the lasting impact of their EMT experience. Interviews were conducted 10 months after the 2016 cohort completed the EMT course and at 22 months for the 2015 cohort. They were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive content analysis.Results: Survey results indicated that students’ confidence in patient care and team-building skills increased significantly for all identified skills at the P < 0.05 level. Overall confidence in patient care increased 1.5 points (P = 0.001) on 1–4 Likert-type scale. Overall confidence in team-building skills increased at 0.7 points (P = 0.01). Qualitative analysis of interviews discovered four themes, including the retention and transferability of practical skills, a developed understanding of team communication, comfort with patient interactions, and the development of a framework for assessing patients’ needs. Students applied the EMT skills in various extracurricular volunteering experiences and in clinical skills courses.Conclusions: This study concludes that EMT programs have both immediate and lasting effects that seem to assist students with making sense of and navigating other learning opportunities. Specifically, EMT courses offered to students prior to their entry into medical school may help orient them to team-based health care and triaging patient care.

A Student Survey: Influence of Emergency Medical Technician Training on Student’s Application, Matriculation, and Transition into Medical School

“…Emergency medical technician coursework was reported to be integrated into medical education curricula in the late 1960s, 17 1970s, and early 1980s; 18–20 however, little was reported on this until recently. 14 , 15 , 21–23 The EMT course is required and serves as the introductory course in the curriculum. It provides students with an opportunity to work in groups and form collaborative relationships while providing training that would introduce an environment where their future patients live and work.…”

Impact of Medical Student Participation in Student-Run Clinics on Education, Residency Selection, and Patient Care: A Review of Selected Articles

“…There is significant evidence that demonstrates an academic advantage for students with early clinical experience [5][6][7]28]. Specifically, research has shown a correlation between pre-matriculation clinical experience [29] and higher clinical volumes [30] with increased grades and board scores.…”

“…Participation in SRCs is considered extracurricular and students do so on a volunteer basis [2]. Given the depth and complexity of medical education, supplemental experience may augment the learning experience [3][4][5][6]. Studies have shown that early patient exposure and additional clinical experiences can improve student clinical competence [7,8].…”

Developing Medical Student Competencies, Clinical Skills, and Self-Efficacy With an Emergency Medical Responder Certification Course

“…Similarly, a survey of students who completed an EMT course before medical school indicated a significant increase in students' confidence in patient care [18]. "I use non-technical language during my patient encounters in medical school" and "I can identify where I need to improve during my patient encounters in medical school" in the group of students with prior clinical experience who became EMR certified were higher than the group of students with prior clinical experience who did not become EMR certified, indicating increased ability to use appropriate language and identify areas of improvement by EMR participants.…”