Introduction to Treating Patients Exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Threats: A Military Medical Case-Based Curriculum

Introduction: Ensuring proficiency in responding to, evaluating, and treating chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) casualties is a critical component of military medical student education. To meet this objective, we developed a case-based CBRN curriculum that can serve as a model to address potential curricular gaps for civilian prehospital, UME, and GME programs. Methods: The curriculum was administered in two sessions, 1 month apart, each with individual student preparation, including an optional asynchronous online module and a review of clinical practice guidelines. Session one consisted of a 2-hour introductory lecture, followed by a student reflection. Session two consisted of a 1-hour small-group case study, designed as a multimodal exercise with a corresponding computer-based worksheet and knowledge check. Results: Forty-five teams consisting of three to four second-year medical students (N = 170) completed the sessions and course survey. Sixty-four percent of student teams were extremely or quite satisfied with what they learned, 62% found the materials very or quite relevant to their needs, and 69% rated the instructional materials as extremely or quite understandable. Student feedback included designating additional time for worksheet completion. Discussion: A case-based training on CBRN patient care earned positive ratings for the clarity of instruction, the impact on students as learners, and the feasibility of the training. Future training evolutions could track student completion of prework, extend the allotted time for activity completion, and evaluate curricular effectiveness through pre-post measurement of students' confidence in their ability to care for a CBRN patient.