title: Management of in-flight medical emergencies: are senior medical students prepared to respond to this community need?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In-flight medical emergencies on commercial aircraft are common in both domestic and international flights. We hypothesized that fourth-year medical students feel inadequately prepared to lend assistance during in-flight medical emergencies. This multicenter study of two U.S. medical schools obtains a baseline assessment of knowledge and confidence in managing in-flight medical emergencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 25-question survey was administered to fourth-year medical students at two United States medical schools. Questions included baseline knowledge of in-flight medicine (10 questions) and perceived ability to respond to in-flight medical emergencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  229 participants completed the survey (75% response rate). The average score on the fund of knowledge questions was 64%. Responses to the 5-point Likert scale questions indicated that, on average, students did not feel confident or competent responding to an in-flight medical emergency. Participants on average also disagreed with statements that they had adequate understanding of supplies, flight crew training, and ground-based management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This multicenter survey indicates that fourth-year medical students do not feel adequately prepared to respond to in-flight medical emergencies and may have sub-optimal knowledge. This study provides an initial step in identifying a deficiency in current medical education.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Katzer
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memmer
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004630:Emergencies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014481:United States