Disaster Medicine Training for Medical Students in Lebanon: Quasi-Experimental Comparison of e-Learning and Face-to-Face Modalities

Integrating DM education into the fifth-year curriculum, prior to externship, can enhance preparedness and promote knowledge retention and application in real-world disaster settings. The study shows that e-learning is an effective modality for improving knowledge acquisition and retention in DM. Although feasibility and efficiency were not measured directly, the successful delivery of the course to geographically dispersed students suggests potential practical advantages. Combining F2F practical sessions for specific targeted topics in a blended curriculum is recommended to further enhance medical students' confidence for future disaster response. These findings support broader policy efforts to institutionalize DM in medical curricula, particularly in fragile and resource-limited settings.