TRAINING CHILD HEALTH PROVIDERS ON UNIQUE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN DISASTERS USING PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING

Eva Holsinger, M.D.*, Marisa Herran M.D., Anna Mandalakas M.D., Karen Olness M.D., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH 44106, U.S.A.

Purpose

The frequency of natural and man-made disasters has increased dramatically over the past 15 years.  Children frequently suffer the most severe acute and long term physical and psychological damage.  However, the world remains ill equipped to respond.  The Rainbow Center for Global Child Health focuses on training health professionals and relief workers in the United States and overseas to respond to the unique needs of children in disasters. 

Methods

In 1996, an interactive training program was launched in Cleveland to train child health professionals about the special needs of children in disasters.  Other objectives included developing a cadre of trainers and providing scholarships for international participants.  This 5-day course couples didactic lectures with small group sessions applying Problem-Based Learning methodology to solving a case history, which is then discussed as a whole group. 

Results

Over 1,000 participants have been trained, and the course has been repeated 10 times in the United States and in 10 locations overseas.  Specialized abbreviated workshops based upon this format have been given across Ohio, addressing the needs of US children.  Graduates have participated in disaster interventions worldwide.  This is an evolving, dynamic project with new workshops and courses continually being designed. 

Conclusions