Multimedia-based training of emergency medical technicians. Evaluation of a training program for psychiatric emergencies

Emergency medical technicians (EMT) are often confronted with psychiatric emergencies but are not well trained and often unable to sufficiently cope with them. The aim of this investigation was to assess whether multisensoric learning can improve learning effects in basic and advanced training for EMTs. Participation in a multimodal, multimedia-based and video-supported training program, accompanied by a questionnaire. In all, 135 EMTs assessed the overall learning effect in approximately 75 % of criteria as aEurorather high" or aEurovery high". Especially compared to classical training or private studies, nearly 85 % of the participants assessed the training effect to be aEurorather high" or aEurovery high". This training program received a high degree of acceptance. The combination of video-presented case reports together with different learning techniques is helpful to more practically and effectively convey learning objectives.