The World Health Organization established the Emergency Medical Team (EMT) initiative in 2013 to standardize disaster response, emphasizing robust education and training programs. The Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT), a volunteer-run NGO with over 1,000 members, struggles with logistical and financial constraints for in-person training.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of virtually delivered TEAMS 3.0 tabletop modules for training CMAT’s volunteers, hypothesizing that virtual training is effective and comparable to in-person training. Adapt TEAMS 3.0 tabletop exercises into a virtual format and assess their effectiveness. Compare the effectiveness of virtual and in-person training.

A quasi-experimental design with non-randomized groups was used. CMAT members were assigned to in-person or virtual training based on availability. Pre- and post-training surveys assessed self-efficacy, teamwork, and training quality. Statistical analysis using SPSS employed non-parametric tests to compare pre- and post-training scores and between-group differences. Qualitative feedback was collected via a post-training anonymous form.

Four TEAMS 3.0 exercises were adapted for virtual delivery using Google Meet and Google collaborative tools. Among 26 participants (10 in-person, 16 virtual), both formats showed no significant changes in self-efficacy or teamwork scores from pre- to post-training. In-person training received significantly higher quality ratings from trainees compared to virtual training (p=0.026). Trainers’ quality ratings also favored in-person training but were not statistically significant (p=0.091).

Virtual TEAMS 3.0 exercises yielded similar self-efficacy and teamwork results as in-person training, though in-person sessions were rated higher quality. This supports virtual training as a scalable, cost-effective alternative, though further research with larger samples is needed.