Effect of Tabletop Exercise on the Preparedness Improvement of Military Hospitals in Mass Casualty Incidents

Aims: Hospitals are the first centers affected by accidents and disasters. Formulating a preparedness plan that takes into account the training of all employees, regular exercises, and the forecasting of required resources is essential for effective disaster management response. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of disaster management training based on the tabletop exercises approach on the ability of members of the hospital incident command system to manage mass casualties in one of the selected military hospitals in Tehran. Materials Methods: This semi-experimental research employed a pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population consisted of the members of the hospital incident command system, of whom 20 individuals were selected based on the entry criteria. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to measure the hospital’s readiness regarding the incident command system, excess capacity, and early warning system. Findings: The average total score of preparedness before the intervention was 6.47±0.87. The average total scores of the members’ ability and attitude in dealing with disasters before the intervention were 3.19±0.72 and 3.28±0.41, respectively. The average scores of overall readiness and competence among nurses immediately after the intervention and one month later showed significant improvement compared to the scores before the intervention. After completing the course in the simulated environment during the workshop, 100% of the students achieved scores at a good level. Additionally, in the area of acquiring pre-hospital skills, 100% of the students scored at the proficient level. Furthermore, after the training workshop concluded, 100% of the students rated themselves as completely proficient. Conclusion: The tabletop exercises have a significant effect on enhancing the capabilities of the members of the incident command system and the hospital in managing disasters.