Disaster medicine in Swedish undergraduate medical education: analysing current programs and future integration in the six-year curriculum

TL;DR

This study examines how disaster medicine is currently taught in Swedish medical schools and how it might be integrated into a new six-year curriculum.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future plans for disaster medicine education in Swedish medical programs.

Findings

Disaster medicine is included in all Swedish medical programs but with varying content and teaching methods.

Most schools plan to maintain or expand their disaster medicine curriculum in the new six-year program.

There is no formal collaboration to standardize disaster medicine education across universities.

Abstract

Disaster medicine involves managing situations where medical needs exceed available resources. In Sweden, disaster medicine is not yet a mandatory component of the medical education. Since the introduction of a revised six-year medical curriculum in 2021, it is unclear how disaster medicine will be integrated into the new program. This study aimed to evaluate the status of undergraduate disaster medicine education in Swedish medical schools, the teaching methodologies employed, plans for future curriculum integration, and the extent of variation across universities.

We conducted a comprehensive review of syllabi from all Swedish medical programs to identify the inclusion of disaster medicine. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 representatives from all seven Swedish medical schools, including those responsible for disaster medicine education or members of the education boards. The interviews explored teaching methods, curriculum content, and plans for the new six-year program. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Disaster medicine is included in the curriculum of all Swedish medical programs; however, its content, extent, and teaching approaches vary. Lectures are the most common teaching method, with some schools incorporating case discussions, tabletop exercises, and disaster simulations. Most medical faculties plan to maintain or expand their disaster medicine curriculum. However, there is no formal collaboration between universities in developing or standardizing disaster medicine education for the new curriculum.

The current level of disaster medicine education in Swedish medical schools requires enhancement in both quality and scope. Variations between universities would need to be minimized to ensure a more consistent approach. Preliminary plans for the new six-year medical program suggest that disparities between universities may persist, underscoring the need for a coordinated effort in standardizing disaster medicine education at the undergraduate level.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07324-2.

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