Introduction: Chemical accidents rank as the second most catastrophic events in recent decades. Preparedness for such incidents and their anagement, including the triage of chemical casualties among nurses in military hospitals, is crucial.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of multimedia-based triage training for chemical casualties on the knowledge of nurses employed in a selected military medical center.
Material and Method: This semi-experimental study involved 54 nurses working in Mashhad Military Hospital in the year 2021-2022. The subjects were chosen using the convenience method and then randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (each group comprising 27 individuals). The intervention involved providing multimedia content at home, containing educational principles of triage in chemical accidents, instructions on how to handle the injured, and training on triage algorithms. Triage training sessions consisted of four sessions over four weeks. The control group did not receive any intervention. A researcher-made questionnaire was completed by the nurses immediately after the intervention and again one month later for both groups. Data were analyzed using statistical software (SPSS) version 21 and relevant statistical tests.
Results: The study revealed no significant disparity in mean knowledge scores between the experimental and control groups prior to the intervention (P>0.05). Post-intervention and one month later, there was a notable discrepancy in mean knowledge between the experimental and control groups (P=0.001). The statistical analysis indicated a significant contrast in average scores within each group pre- and post-intervention, as well as between the two groups before and after the intervention (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The utilization of multimedia triage training for chemical casualties effectively enhances nurses’ knowledge levels and can refine their understanding of the appropriate triage procedures for such cases.