Investigation of emergency medicine residents' knowledge levels on enviromental emergencies in Turkey

Aim: The aim of our research is to gain insights into the knowledge levels of emergency medicine residents regarding environmental emergencies through a survey we have developed. Additionally, we aim to identify deficiencies and propose solutions to address them, thereby contributing to the enhancement of necessary studies on this topic in our country. Method: Our study was conducted using a questionnaire consisting of 91 questions, prepared by expert physicians in the field, to determine the awareness and basic knowledge levels regarding environmental emergencies. The survey was administered to emergency medicine residents working in emergency departments across the country. The results were categorized into two subgroups: sufficient and insufficient. The data analysis was performed using the SPSS 26.0 software package. Differences in success scores based on dichotomous variables were analyzed using the t-test, while differences based on variables with three or more groups were analyzed using the ANOVA test. In cases where the ANOVA test indicated a difference, multiple comparisons were analyzed using the Tukey test. Results: The research included 301 participants who completed the questions in full. The overall performance and the performance in categories of the participants were found to be insufficient. Factors found to be statistically significant included the duration of residency, years of experience in medicine, and prior training. Conclusion: This research evaluated the knowledge level of emergency medicine residents management of patients affected by environmental emergencies. Based on the results obtained from our study, it is emphasized that emergency physicians have deficiencies in the management of patients exposed to environmental emergencies and that there are areas that need improvement.