title: Recognition and Treatment of Nerve Agent Casualties: Evidence of Reduced Learner Engagement During Video-based Training.
abstract: Changes in electrodermal activity (EDA) correlate with arousal and stress during stimulating experiences. We hypothesized that associations exist between short-term performance gains and changes in EDA. A total of 187 combat medics were randomly assigned to simulation (S), live tissue (L), or video (V) based training in the recognition and treatment of nerve agent casualties. Change in EDA from baseline to training was quantified for tonic and phasic responses and was categorized as positive (>+10%), no change (±10%), or negative (<-10%). Cognitive and psychomotor skills assessments were applied before and after the baseline/training period to quantify short-term performance changes. Statistically significant differences in both EDA arousal measures between training modalities (p < 0.001 with L > S ∼ V) were observed. Notably, larger proportions of trainees experienced negative changes in tonic (67%) and phasic (21%) EDA measures in the V group when compared to the L and S groups. Regardless of training modality, negative tonic and phasic EDA responses were associated with lower psychomotor performance gains and this finding approached statistical significance (tonic: p = 0.056, phasic: p = 0.08). No significant differences were noted in pre- to post-training cognitive performance between EDA response categories. As quantified by EDA response to training, reduced arousal was associated with lower short-term psychomotor, but not cognitive, performance gains.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 900 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bukoski
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212.
authors.forename: Rindi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uhlich
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067397:Nerve Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013663:Teaching / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000067397:Nerve Agents