Curriculum design of emergency medical services program at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

Figures & data

Table 1 Brief summary of the five studies

Study	Aims	Method	Participants (n)
1	To identify the common emergency problems	Modified Delphi	Paramedics (n = 10) and emergency consultants (n = 10)
2	To prioritize the health problems	A cross-sectional survey using evaluation grid suggested by MacDonald et al^Citation24	Emergency consultants (n = 25), paramedics (n = 5), EMTs (n = 10), and medical educationists (n = 5)
3	To identify competencies, learning objectives and strategies	Modified Delphi	Paramedics (n = 10) and emergency consultants (n = 10)
4	To reach a consensus on the EMS program, its mission, vision, and values	Focus group discussions	Professors of medical education (n = 2), paramedics (n = 2), and project designers (n = 3)
5	To work on designing problems and weekly learning objectives and to design CVS and RS blocks	Expert group discussions	Paramedics (n = 5), professors (n = 2),ER consultants (n = 2), and block designers (n = 2)

Abbreviations: CVS, cardiovascular system; EMS, emergency medical services; EMT, emergency medical technician; ER, emergency room; RS, respiratory system.

Appendix 1 The health problems evaluation grid suggested by MacDonald et al²⁴

Prevalence
2	Condition affecting 3% or more of the population
1	Condition has a prevalence of <3%
0	Condition has a prevalence of <0.03%
One-year case fatality rate
2	3%
1	<3%
0	<0.03%
Level of remaining quality of life
2	<30%
1	30%–70%
0	≥70%
Urgency of the illness condition
2	Intervention is required within 6 hours
1	Intervention may be postponed for up to 48 hours
0	Intervention may be postponed for over 48 hours
Prevention: availability and applicability
2	A measure is both available and applicable
1	A measure is available
0	No prevention available
Diagnostic process: accuracy and applicability
2	Satisfactory accuracy and applicability
1	Accurate but not applicable
0	neither accurate nor applicable
Intervention in established cases: efficacy
2	Both efficacious and applicable
1	An efficacious intervention
0	A non-efficacious intervention
Educational impact
2	High impact involving multiple disciplines and generate multiple objectives
1	Moderate impact involving two or three disciplines with few objectives
0	One discipline and one objective

Figure 1 Cardiovascular problem magnitude.

Abbreviations: DVT, deep vein thrombosis; HTN, hypertensive; MI, myocardial infarction.

Figure 2 Respiratory problem magnitude.

Abbreviations: BA, bronchial asthma; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FB, foreign body; PE, pulmonary embolism.

Figure 3 Identified competencies.

Figure 4 Learning objectives and strategies.

Abbreviations: CBA, curriculum-based assessment; PBL, problem-based learning; SDL, self-directed learning.

Table 2 Semesters by block design

Semester	Code and number	Block	Weeks	Credit hours	Lecture hours/week	Other sessions (hours/week)
1	EMMS 311	Paramedic practice 1 and communication for EMTs (combined)	6	6	10	2
	EMMS 312	Paramedic practice 2	5	5	5	7
	EMMS 313	Paramedic practice 3	5	5	5	5
2	EMMS 314	Pathophysiology of the CVS	6	6	4	9
	EMMS 315	Pathophysiology of the RS	6	6	4	9
	EMMS 316	Applied pharmacology	4	4	2	5
	EMMS 321	Practical field 1	N/A	2	N/A	N/A
3	EMMS 417	Pathophysiology of the NS	6	5	4	9
	EMMS 418	Mental health and mental illness	4	3	1
	EMMS 419	Pathophysiology of body systems	6	5	4	9
	EMMS 422	Practical field 2	N/A	4	N/A	N/A
4	EMMS 420	Hospital rotation	10	7	N/A	10
	EMMS 401	Professional studies	2	2	1	7
	EMMS 423	Applied paramedic practice	10	7	N/A	14

Abbreviations: CVS, cardiovascular system; EMT, emergency medical technician; NA, not applicable; NS, nervous system; RS, respiratory system.

Table 3 Curriculum modifications

Day	Date (2009)	Time	Activity
Saturday	October 17	1000–1200	Lecture: introduction to OHS&W, parts 1 and 2
		1300–1600	Lecture: Manual handling, parts 1, 2, and 3
Sunday	October 18	1000–1200	Lecture: Shock, parts 1 and 2
		1300–1600	Lecture: Hemorrhage control practical, parts 1 and 2
Monday	October 19	1000–1200	Lecture: Basic physiological concepts 1, parts 1 and 2
		1300–1600	Practical sessions
Tuesday	October 20	1000–1200	Lecture: Academic skills 1
Wednesday	October 21	1000–1200	Lecture: Academic skills 2
Saturday	October 24	1000–1200	Lecture: infection control, parts 1 and 2
Sunday	October 25	1000–1200	Lecture: Head, facial, neck, parts 1 and 2
		1300–1600	Lecture: The head injured patient, parts 1, 2, and 3
Monday	October 26	1000–1200	Lecture: Basic physiological concepts 2, parts 1 and 2
		1300–1600	Practical sessions
Tuesday	October 27	1000–1200	Lecture: PBL diabetes, parts 1 and 2
Wednesday	October 28	1000–1200	Lecture: PBL autonomic nervous system, parts 1 and 2

Abbreviations: OHS&W, occupational health, safety, and welfare; PBL, problem-based learning.

Table 4 Adopting stage

Abbreviations: EMT, emergency medical technician; KSAU-HS, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences; Sem, semester.

Table 5 Initial proposed curriculum

Semester	Topic	Source material
1	Paramedic practice A: medical	HLTH 1201: Paramedic practice 1
		HLTH 1203: Paramedic practice 3
	Paramedic practice B: trauma	HLTH 1202: Paramedic practice 2
	Communication for health practitioners	HLTH 1304: Communication for health practitioners
2	Applied pharmacology	HLTH 3204: Applied pharmacology
	Pathophysiology of the CVS	HLTH 2202: Pathophysiology of the CVS
	Pathophysiology of the RS	HLTH 2203: Pathophysiology of the RS
3	Pathophysiology of the NS	HLTH 2201: Pathophysiology of the NS
	Health and illness	HLTH 2002: Health: a psychological perspective
		HLTH 2003: Society and health: sociology and epidemiology
	Paramedic: professional issues	HLTH 3201: Paramedic: professional issues
4	Health research: epidemiology and methodologies	HLTH 2003: Society and health: sociology and epidemiology
		HLTH 3001: Health and research 1
	Applied paramedic practice	HLTH 3206: Applied paramedic practice
	Applied clinical assessment and decision	HLTH 3202: Pathophysiology of body systems

Abbreviations: CVS, cardiovascular system; NS, nervous system; RS, respiratory system.

Table 6 Synchronization

Semester	Topic	Source material
1	Paramedic practice A: medical	HLTH 1201: Paramedic practice 1
		HLTH 1203: Paramedic practice 3
	Paramedic practice B: trauma	HLTH 1202: Paramedic practice 2
	Communication for health practitioners	HLTH 1304: Communication for health practitioners*
2	Applied pharmacology	HLTH 3204: Applied pharmacology
	Pathophysiology of the CVS	HLTH 2202: Pathophysiology of the CVS
	Pathophysiology of the RS	HLTH 2203: Pathophysiology of the RS
3	Pathophysiology of the NS	HLTH 2201: Pathophysiology of the NS
	Health and illness	HLTH 2002: Health: a psychological perspective
		HLTH 2003: Society and health: sociology and epidemiology
	Paramedic: professional issues	HLTH 3201: Paramedic: professional issues
4	Health research: epidemiology and methodologies	HLTH 3001: Health and research 1
	Applied paramedic practice	HLTH 3206: Applied paramedic practice
	Applied clinical assessment and decision	HLTH 3202: Pathophysiology of body systems

Note:

* This replaces human bioscience because the students already take this block for 8 weeks in the foundation years.

Abbreviations: CVS, cardiovascular system; NS, nervous system; RS, respiratory system.

MacDonaldPJChongJPChongtrakulPSetting educational priorities for learning the concepts of population healthMed Educ19892354294392796798

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