Public health officials hold critical roles in nuclear emergencies, but repeated, scenario-based training is often hindered by regulatory and safety constraints surrounding the use of radioactive sources. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary educational outcomes of a modular training program incorporating radiation source-free simulation modules for public health officials.

We developed a half-day program integrating augmented reality (AR) for simulated contamination searches and a radiation source-free measurement system (USOTOPE). Twenty local government public health officials participated; paired pre-post analyses included 19 participants. Assessments measured radiation-related knowledge and self-rated procedural confidence.

Analysis of 19 participants showed significant improvements in knowledge (P = 0.001) and procedural confidence (P < 0.001). Item-level analyses suggested larger improvements in practical contamination management and context-specific knowledge, whereas some items addressing procedural details showed smaller changes. Participants rated the AR and USOTOPE modules as highly realistic and educationally valuable. The radiation source-free simulation modules were feasible to implement without dedicated radioactive sources or specialized source-management requirements.

This modular training program incorporating radiation source-free simulation modules was associated with short-term improvements in knowledge and procedural confidence among public health officials. Further validation using objective measures of operational performance and preparedness is warranted.