Multi-stakeholder disaster healthcare training as a figurine-based tabletop simulation in coastal Karnataka, India: a kinesthetic teaching–learning experience

BACKGROUND: Periodic disaster preparedness training is the cornerstone for strengthening coordinated response across multiple tiers of the healthcare system. Integrated multistakeholder training models that are scalable and resource-efficient remain less frequent in low- and middle-income settings. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a structured, stakeholder-specific disaster preparedness training program incorporating figurine-based tabletop simulation as a tactile, kinesthetic learning approach. METHODS: A pre–post educational intervention study was conducted in a tertiary care academic teaching hospital in South India. Seventy-eight participants were enrolled across three stakeholder groups: Emergency Healthcare Professionals (n = 26), Hospital Administrators (n = 26), and Community Frontline Workers (n = 26). The intervention comprised lectures, scenario walkthroughs, and tabletop exercises using miniature figurines to simulate disaster environments. Outcomes were assessed using a structured questionnaire mapped to three domains: Understanding and Awareness; Preparedness and Strategic Planning; and Operational Response and Implementation. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: All three stakeholder groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in post-training scores across all domains (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes observed for overall score changes. CONCLUSION: Figurine-based, kinesthetic tabletop simulation may serve as a scalable and context-adaptable training approach for improving disaster preparedness knowledge, perceived preparedness, and scenario-based decision-making across clinical, administrative, and community stakeholders in resource-limited settings.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​