Enhancing Knowledge and Confidence in Wilderness Medicine Through Virtual Education: Lessons From a National Boot Camp

Wilderness medicine (WM) education is an important aspect of training for sports medicine fellows, preparing healthcare providers to address medical challenges in remote and austere environments. It is traditionally taught in immersive, in-person settings. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a rapid shift toward virtual education platforms, challenging traditional teaching methods. This study evaluates the efficacy of a virtual WM boot camp to teach WM concepts, converting an established in-person program into a national, virtual educational opportunity. Participants included Primary Care Sports Medicine fellows and attendings located in the USA, with data collected over two years (2020 and 2021). Pre- and post-surveys assessed comfort levels and knowledge before and after attending the virtual boot camp. Results indicate significant improvements in comfort and knowledge across various WM topics for both fellows and attendings. Limitations include the absence of hands-on experiences and the inability to fully replicate simulated scenarios. This study underscores the adaptability and potential of virtual education in WM and discusses the benefits of virtual over in-person education. It further demonstrates the potential for virtual training in medical education more broadly, optimizing medical training in a post-pandemic era.