The effect of problem solving training on decision making skill in emergency medicine students

Nowadays in the areas of health care, emergency medical personnel are increasingly exposed with issues and situations that are complex and product of the technology, understanding and awareness in the social sectors, health culture promotion, processes of diseases and frequent changes in moral and cultural characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of problem solving training on decision-making skills in emergency medical students. This study is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design that was performed in 60 graduate emergency medical students in two groups of experimental (30) and control (30). Simple sampling method was used and all students participated in this study. Then, an eight 2 hr session problem solving course was held for the experimental group. To determine the decision making skill the “Decision Making Questionnaire” was used. Content validity (0.87), with eight confirmed cases of teachers and the reliability test (0.84) were obtained using Cronbach's alpha. Data were gathered in pre and post educational program and were analyzed by SPSS/16. T test, paired T test and Squire Chi were also used in this analysis. Findings revealed that decision making score in emergency medical students is low and problem solving course, positively affected the students ' decision making skill after the program in experimental group (P<0.05) and mean score of 8.66±1.89 rose to 11.36±1.62. However, decision making level did not change in control group. In general, findings of this study indicated that the student’s decision making skill has improved. Therefore, this kind of education on problem solving in various emergency medicine domains such as: education, research and management, is recommended.