Predictors of improved self-reported competence associated with a statewide, mass casualty burn disaster continuing education program in Kansas

Introduction: Continuing education (CE) is the most frequently utilized method of updating knowledge and skills among the healthcare professionals. The study purpose was to identify factors that predicted self-reported improvement in competence after attending a mass-casualty burn disaster CE program. Methods: Nine, one-day continuing education conferences were conducted across Kansas in 2005. Thirteen independent variables including demographic characteristics, percent change in knowledge items, perceived abilities, confidence, and motivation to attend the program were used to predict self-reported competence (more vs. less) post training. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on 290 observations using 0.10 alpha. Results: Participants were predominantly female, aged 40 years or older, employed as nurses and had worked in health care for 10 years or less. Significant demographic predictors included: prehospital work setting, 11 or more years of practice, practice in an urban setting, while confidence items included: ability to implement appropriate airway management modalities, manage patients with electrical injuries, identify non-survivable injuries, recognize special problems associated with burns in young children or older adults. Percentage change in knowledge, gender, age and motivation to attend and additional confidence items were not significant, but improved the model. The final model explained 89.9% of the variability in self-reported competence. Conclusions: Interventions to train healthcare providers for burn disasters must cover a broad range of topics; however, learning needs may vary by practice setting, work experience and previous exposure to disaster events, which suggest that CE programs may need to be tailored to meet the learning needs of each audience.