Assessing the Readiness and Training Needs of Non-urban Physicians in Public Health Emergency and Response (original) (raw)
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Physician Assistants and Bioterrorism Preparedness
Biosecurity and Bioterrorism-biodefense Strategy Practice and Science, 2006
Despite the resources dedicated since 2001 to training health providers in emergency and bioterrorism preparedness and response, the literature on the participation of physician assistants (PAs) is very limited. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the training level and experiences of PAs in the diagnosis and treatment of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive agents that could be used in a bioterrorism attack. The study population consisted of licensed PAs in 37 northern Texas counties. Data were collected through a mailed survey. Response rate was 36%. More than half of the respondents (58.6%) had not participated in bioterrorism preparedness and response training. Results also indicate that the level of training has not increased since September 11, 2001. However, most respondents were receptive to the idea of participating in both preparedness training and response efforts. It is recommended that state agencies increase training opportunities for PAs in bioterrorism preparedness and response.
Knowledge and preparedness of healthcare providers towards bioterrorism
BMC Health Services Research
Background Several emergent circumstances require healthcare providers to recognize the unusual and dangerous and pathogenic agents. An in-depth literature review showed that studies about bioterrorism preparedness amongst healthcare providers are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and preparedness level of first emergency respondents towards bioterrorism events. Methods This study has a cross-sectional design and was carried out at the Emergency departments and poison control centers/clinical laboratories three in major tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The subjects were randomly selected to complete the self-administered questionnaire to collect study outcomes. Results A total of 1030 participants were included in the final data analysis. The mean knowledge score in the basic concepts of bioterrorism and introductory clinical presentations of bioterrorism-related agents was 4.92 ± 1.86 out of 12 points. Moreover, the findings showed a ...
Critical Challenges Ahead in Bioterrorism Preparedness Training for Clinicians
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 2009
Purpose:A survey was distributed to determine physicians' confidence levels in recognizing potential Category-A bioterrorism disease threats (e.g., smallpox, anthrax), preferred means of obtaining continuing medical education (CME) credits, and their knowledge of the Connecticut Department of Public Health's (DPH) disease reporting requirements.Methods:Surveys were mailed to all physicians in the three-hospital Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) System (2,174) from January to March 2004; there were 820 respondents for a 37.7% response rate.Results:A total of 71% of physicians indicated that they were “not confident” that they could recognize five of the infectious agents named;they had higher confidence rates for smallpox (48.8%). Infectious diseases and emergency medicine physicians had the highest rates of confidence. Seventy-eight percent of physicians indicated conferences and lectures as their preferred CME learning modality. Nearly 72% of physicians reported a low familiarit...
Prehospital and disaster medicine
Medical systems worldwide are facing the new threat of morbidity associated with the deliberate dispersal of microbiological agents by terrorists. Rapid diagnosis and containment of this type of unannounced attack is based on the knowledge and capabilities of medical staff. In 2004, the knowledge of emergency department physicians of anthrax was tested. The average test score was 58%. Consequently, a national project on bioterrorism preparedness was developed. The aim of this article is to present the project in which medical knowledge was enhanced regarding a variety of bioterrorist threats, including cutaneous and pulmonary anthrax, botulinum, and smallpox. In 2005, military physicians and experts on bioterrorism conducted special seminars and lectures for the staff of the hospital emergency department and internal medicine wards. Later, emergency department senior physicians were drilled using one of the scenarios. Twenty-nine lectures and 29 drills were performed in 2005. The av...
Occupational physician perceptions of bioterrorism
International journal of …, 2005
The rationale for most preparedness training of healthcare professionals is based on the assumption that most persons infected following a biological incident will present first to emergency departments of acute care facilities or to ambulatory settings such as private physician offices, and such incidences would be recognized, appropriately treated, and reported to the local health departments. However, an alternative first point of contact is industry, a location where workers gather and disperse on a regular and documented basis, and require healthcare. In industry there are health professionals responsible for the health, safety and on-site well-being of the workforce and surrounding community; these professionals are in a position for early recognition, surveillance, and isolation. Targeted education must be provided to these health professionals. To address perceptions of risk and preferred educational delivery methods for bioterrorism and emerging infections-related materials, a survey of occupational physicians was performed during the spring of 2001. Within the 2 months following the September 11 terrorist attack and subsequent anthrax bioterrorism event, and before release of any results from the first survey, a follow-up mail survey was initiated in November 2001. Response rate to the pre-and post-September 11 survey were 58% (n ¼ 56) and 33% (n ¼ 33), respectively. No significant demographic differences were observed between the respondents of the pre-and postsurveys. Perceptions of likelihood of another bioterrorism event increased between surveys, as would be expected; however, a tendency to believe that it would not happen locally persisted. Even though over 90% of the physicians had received immediate training following September 11, additional training/education needs were demonstrated. Although training and education modules can be designed without information based on the population that can be on the receiving end, it rarely accomplishes its goal. Results from this survey can serve as a base for designing various levels of targeted training and educational material specific to the perceived need, method of obtaining information and the format considered to be most conducive for learning. Potential consequences from lack of bioterrorism preparedness due to low perception of need and threat awareness need to be addressed.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine a Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine, 2007
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have been called "the worst environmental disaster in the history of New York City." As a result of the extensive nature of the destruction, our objective as pediatricians was to determine the experience and training needs of tri-state child health professionals in responding to the environmental health and bioterrorism-related demands placed on their practices.
Assessing and Improving Bioterrorism Preparedness Among First Responders: A Pilot Study
2007
Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the vulnerability of the United States became apparent. It also became evident that there was a need for respiratory protection. The purpose of this study was to determine the prior knowledge and perceptions of emergency medical technicians with respect to bioterrorism and to enhance their current knowledge to better prepare them for possible future events. The study was also designed to create a certified pool of trainers who would be capable of fit-testing all squad members with N-100 respirators. Representatives were recruited from each of the Hunterdon County, New Jersey, rescue squads. Participants attended a train-the-trainer session. Before the session and after, they were tested on knowledge and perceptions about relevant bioterrorism issues and were given an educational presentation on bioterrorism, threatening agents, respiratory health, and proper protection, along with being introduced to the fit-test steps for N-100 respirat...
Nurses’ and Medical Officers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Preparedness Toward Potential Bioterrorism Attacks, 2019
Terrorist attacks are increasingly becoming more lethal and less discriminate. The threat of bioterrorism is increasing daily. The ease of production and the broad availability of biological agents and technical know-how have led to a further spread of biological weapons and an increased desire among nations as well as terrorists to have them. Health professionals in emergency departments are expected to play crucial roles in the management of victims of bioterrorism when bioterrorism occurs. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and medical officers (MOs) toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. This qualitative study utilized focus group discussions and semistructured interviews to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and MOs toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. Data were subjected to a qualitative content analysis in which three main thematic categories were developed. These thematic categories are as follows: (a) differences in bioterrorism knowledge between emergency department nurses and emergency department MOs, (b) unprepared emergency department nurses and MOs for care during bioterrorism attacks, and (c) positive attitudes of emergency department nurses and MOs toward bioterrorism preparedness. Although emergency MOs had better knowledge of bioterrorism than their nursing counterparts , both groups of health professionals were unprepared to respond to any form of bioterrorism. Both nurses and MOs indicated the need for staff education and infrastructure readiness to be able to respond effectively to a bioterrorist attack. A well-prepared emergency department and health professionals against bioterrorism could prevent high casualty rates in a bioterrorist attack and also serve a dual purpose of dealing with other natural disasters when they occur.
Frontiers in Public Health
BackgroundBesides catastrophes, infrastructural damages, and psychosocial distress, terrorism also imposes an unexpected burden on healthcare services. Considerably, adequately-prepared and responsive healthcare professionals affirms effective management of terrorism-related incidences. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate physicians' preparedness and response toward terrorism-related disaster events in Quetta city, Pakistan.MethodsA qualitative design was adopted. Physicians practicing at the Trauma Center of Sandeman Provincial Hospital (SPH), Quetta, were approached for the study. We conducted in-depth interviews; all interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for thematic contents by a standard content analysis framework.ResultsFifteen physicians were interviewed. The saturation was achieved at the 13th interview however we conducted another two to validate the saturation. The thematic content analysis revealed five themes and 11 subthemes. A...