Sandra W. Kuntz, PhD, RN¹, Wade Hill, PhD, RN², Jean T. Carter, PharmD, PhD³, Jacqueline Elam, BA⁴, Steven C. Fehrer, MSPT, PhD³, Steven D. Glow, MSN, FNP, RN⁵, Earl C. Hall³, Michael F. Minnick, PhD⁶, Melanie Reynolds, MPH⁷, Michele Sare, BSN⁴, and Lisa Wrobel⁴. (1) College of Nursing, Montana State University-Bozeman, Missoula Campus, 32 Campus Drive 7416, Missoula, MT 59801, 406-243-2551, skuntz@montana.edu, (2) College of Nursing, Montana State University, Sherrick Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, (3) School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, University of Montana, Skaggs Building, Missoula, MT 59812-1522, (4) College of Technology, University of Montana, 909 South Ave West, Missoula, MT 59801-7910, (5) Nursing Department, Salish Kootenai College, Box 117, Pablo, MT 59855, (6) Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Microbiology Department, Missoula, MT 59812-4824, (7) Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana DPHHS, PO Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604-4210

PURPOSE: Members of an interdisciplinary project team (nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, medical technology, medical assisting) linking faculty from four higher education institutions (Montana State University-Bozeman, University of Montana, Salish Kootenai College, and University of Montana College of Technology) are collaborating to introduce basic disaster preparedness curricular enhancements to undergraduate health profession students.

METHOD: With overfilled curricula, faculty struggle to introduce emerging topics while maintaining discipline-based content. This project reports ways to enhance rather replace current curricula to prepare the future health and public health workforce with knowledge and skills necessary to respond to all hazard disasters and emerging events. Four topics were chosen by the interdisciplinary development team to launch the project: (a) introduction to disasters; (b) surveillance and reporting; (c) acute and community-based client care, and (d) disaster response structures. Curriculum enhancement modules incorporate faculty-led sessions, a student learning guide, and web-based activities. A capstone multidisciplinary disaster simulation is planned to give students an opportunity to apply the disaster module content.

EVALUATION: A pilot group of nursing and pharmacy students will participate in the evaluation of module curricular enhancements during spring 2004. Measures include learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, and attitude) and satisfaction with the instructional delivery methods. In addition, qualitative data related to project components will be gathered from student and faculty participants. Curriculum integration success for each participant school/institution and/or discipline will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe an instructional delivery and curricular enhancement model for introducing the future work force to all hazard disaster preparedness and response to emerging threats.
• Discuss project evaluation components including measures of education and training effectiveness and student/faculty satisfaction.

Keywords: Disasters, Curricula

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program, P.L. 107-188 Section 105