Comparative Effectiveness of an In-Person and a Virtual Basic Emergency Care Instructor Course

BACKGROUND: Resource limited settings have an ongoing need for access to quality emergency care. The World Health Organization – International Committee of the Red Cross Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course is one mechanism to address this need. Training of BEC trainers has been challenging due to barriers including cost, travel logistics, scheduling, and more recently, social distancing regulations related to the coronavirus pandemic. OBJECTIVE: We seek to determine if an online virtual format is an effective way to train additional trainers while overcoming these barriers. METHODS: The BEC Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course was adapted to a virtual format and delivered entirely online. Participants were assessed with a multiple choice pre- and post-test and completed a course feedback form upon completion. Results from the virtual course were then compared to the results from an in-person ToT course. FINDINGS: The in-person course pre- and post-tests were completed by 121 participants with a pre-test mean of 87% (range 60–100%) and a post-test mean of 95% (range: 75–100; p < 0.05). Virtual course pre- and post-tests by 27 participants were analyzed with a pre-test mean of 89% (range 75–100%) and a post-test mean of 96% (range: 79–100; p < 0.05). No difference in test improvements between the courses was detected (z = –0.485; p = 0.627). The course feedback was completed by 93 in-person participants and 28 virtual participants. Feedback survey responses were similar for all questions except for course length, with in-person participant responses trending towards the course being too long. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual format BEC ToT course is effective, feasible, and acceptable. When compared to an in-person course, no difference was detected in nearly all metrics for the virtual format. Utilizing this format for future courses can assist in scaling both the BEC ToT and, by extension, the BEC course globally, particularly in regions facing barriers to in-person training.