Disaster medicine curricula in Saudi Arabian medical schools

Background: Disaster medicine training in medical school is a key element of disaster preparedness, and several international educational authorities have called for an increase in this specific type of training. The objective of this study was to assess the current state of disaster medicine education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: All 30 medical schools in Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in the study, and a 25-item online survey was sent to those that consented. Results: The response rate was 67%. Only three of the responding 20 universities currently have disaster medicine programs, and they spend an average of three hours per year on the subject. Respondents without disaster medicine curricula indicated that a mandatory, accredited course in the final three years of the six-year program was their preferred method for implementation, and most favored a blended approach. Conclusions: The study found that there is a paucity of disaster medicine programs in Saudi Arabia. Most schools indicated a willingness to implement such training in their undergraduate programs but cited lack of an adequate number of relevant professionals as a major impediment.