Hawaii Physician and Nurse Bioterrorism Preparedness Survey
Alan R. Kata✉, Dawn M. Nekorchuka, Peter S. Holcka, Lisa A. Hendricksonb, Allison A. Imriea, Paul V. Efflerb
- aDepartment of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- bDisease Outbreak Control Division, Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Physicians and nurses are integral components of the public health bioterrorism surveillance system. However, most published bioterrorism preparedness surveys focus on gathering information related to self-assessed knowledge or perceived needs and abilities. OBJECTIVE: A survey of physicians and nurses in Hawaii was conducted to assess objective knowledge regarding bioterrorism agents and diseases and perceived response readiness for a bioterrorism event. METHODS: During June and July 2004, an anonymous survey was mailed up to three times to a random sample of all licensed physicians and nurses residing in Hawaii. RESULTS: The response rate was 45% (115 of 255) for physicians and 53% (146 of 278) for nurses. Previous bioterrorism preparedness training associated significantly with knowledge-based test performance in both groups. Only 20% of physicians or nurses had had previous training in bioterrorism preparedness, and < 15% felt able to respond effectively to a bioterrorism event. But, > 70% expressed willingness to assist the state in the event of a bioterrorist attack. CONCLUSIONS: Additional bioterrorism preparedness training should be made available through continuing education and also should become a component of both medical and nursing school curricula. It is important to provide the knowledge necessary for physicians and nurses to improve their ability to perform in the event of a bioterrorist attack.
TL;DRAdditional bioterrorism preparedness training should be made available through continuing education and also should become a component of both medical and nursing school curricula to provide the knowledge necessary for physicians and nurses to improve their ability to perform in the event of a biot error. (Semantic Scholar)