Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T19:33:02.621Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hawaii Physician and Nurse Bioterrorism Preparedness Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Alan R. Kat ,
Dawn M. Nekorchuk ,
Peter S. Holck ,
Lisa A. Hendrickson ,
Allison A. Imrie  and
Paul V. Effler
Alan R. Kat*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Dawn M. Nekorchuk
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Peter S. Holck
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Lisa A. Hendrickson
Affiliation:
Disease Outbreak Control Division, Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Allison A. Imrie
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Paul V. Effler
Affiliation:
Disease Outbreak Control Division, Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
*
Alan R. Katz, MD Department of Public Health Sciences and EpidemiologyJohn A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawaii, Biomedical Sciences Building, Room D204, 1960 East-West Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA E-mail: katz@hawaii.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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 selfassessed 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.

Keywords

bioterrorism preparednessbioterrorism trainingcontinuing educationHawaiiknowledge-based surveypatient care
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2006 , pp. 404 - 413
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Bush, LM, Abrams, BH, Beall, A, Johnson, CC: Index case of fatal inhalation anthrax due to bioterrorism in the United States. N Engl J Med 2001;345:1607–1610.Google Scholar
2.Mayer, TA, Bersoff-Matcha, S, Murphy, C et al: Clinical presentation of inhalation anthrax following bioterrorism exposure: Report of 2 surviving patients. JAMA 2001;286:2549–2553.Google Scholar
3.Jernigan, JA, Stephens, DS, Ashford, DA et al: Bioterrorism-related inhalation anthrax: The first 10 cases reported in the United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7(6):933–944.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Gerberding, JL, Hughes, JM, Koplan, JP: Bioterrorism preparedness and response: clinicians and public health agencies as essential partners. JAMA 2002;287(7):898–898.Google Scholar
5.Alder, SC, Clark, JD, White, GL Jr., et al: Physician preparedness for bioter- rorism recognition and response: A Utah-based needs assessment. Disaster Manage Response 2004;2(3):69–69.Google Scholar
6.Chen, FM, Hickner, J, Fink, KS et al: On the front lines: Family physicians' preparedness for bioterrorism. J Fam Pract 2002;51:745–750.Google Scholar
7.Kerby, DS, Brand, MW, Johnson, DL, Ghouri, FS: Self-assessment in the measurement of public health workforce preparedness for bioterrorism or other public health disasters. Public Health Rep 2005;120(2):186–186.Google Scholar
8.Lanzilotti, SS, Galanis, D, Leoni, N, Craig, B: Hawaii medical professionals assessment. Hawaii Med J 2001;61(8):162–162.Google Scholar
9.Kerby, DS, Brand, MW, Elledge, BL et al: Are public health workers aware of what they don't know? Biosecur Bioterror 2005;3(1):31–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Snedecor, GW, Cochran, WC: Statistical Methods. 7th ed.Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press, 1980.Google Scholar
11.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control): Biological and chemical terrorism: Strategic plan for preparedness and response. Recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control Strategic Planning Workgroup. MMWR 2000;49(RR–4):1–14.Google Scholar
12.Centers for Disease Control: Vaccinia (Smallpox) vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2001. MMWR 2001;50(RR–10):1–25.Google Scholar
13.Friedewald, VE: Medscape personal professor: Anthrax. 2003 October. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/2718?src=search. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
14.Friedewald, VE: Medscape personal professor: Smallpox. 2003 March. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/2265?src=search. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
15.Friedewald, VE: Medscape personal professor: Plague. 2003 July. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/2526?src=search. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
16.Nierengarten, MB, Lutwick, L, Lutwick, S: Syndrome-based surveillance for clinicians on the frontlines of healthcare: Focus on rapid diagnosis and notification. 2003 June. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/2427?src=search. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
17.Inglesby, TV, O'Toole, T, Henderson, DA et al: Anthrax as a biological weapon, 2002: Updated recommendations for management. JAMA 2002;287:2236–2236.Google Scholar
18.Inglesby, TV, Dennis, DT, Henderson, DA et al: Plague as a biological weapon: Medical and public health management. J AMA 2000;283:2281–2290.Google Scholar
19.Dennis, DT, Inglesby, TV, Henderson, DA et al: Tularemia as a biologic weapon: Medical and public health management. J AMA 2001;285:2763–2773.Google Scholar
20.Centers for Disease Control: Update: Investigation of anthrax associated with intentional exposure and interim public health guidelines, October 2001. MMWR 2001;50:889–893.Google Scholar
21.Dillman, DA: Mail and Internet Surveys:The Tailored Design Method. 2nd ed.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000.Google Scholar
22.Association of American Medical Colleges: Training future physicians about weapons of mass destruction: Report of the expert panel on bioterrorism education for medical students. 2003. Available at: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/bioterrorism/bioterrorismrec.pdf. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
23.International Nursing Coalition for Mass Casualty Education: Educational competencies for registered nurses responding to mass casualty incidents. 2003 August. Available at: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/ INCMCECompetencies.pdf. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
24.Health Resources and Service Administration: Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development, CFDA no. 93.996; 2003.Google Scholar
25.American Association of Colleges of Nursing: Your nursing career: A look at the facts. Available at: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/nurse_ed/career.htm. Accessed 18 May 2006.Google Scholar
26.Alexander, GC, Wynia, MW: Ready and willing? Physicians' sense of preparedness for bioterrorism. Health Affairs 2003;22:189–197.Google Scholar
27.Rose, MA, Larrimore, KL: Knowledge and awareness concerning chemical and biological terrorism: Continuing education implications. J Contin Educ Nurs 2002;33(6):253–253.Google Scholar
28.Field, TS, Cadoret, CA, Brown, ML: Surveying physicians: Do components of the “Total Design Approach” to optimizing survey response rates apply to physicians? Med Care 2002;40(7):596–596.Google Scholar
29.Cowan, AE, Ching, PL, Clark, SJ, Kemper, AR: Willingness of private physicians to be involved in smallpox preparedness and response activities. Biosecur Bioterror 2005;3(1):16–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30.Lapidus, G, Cooke, MB, Gelven, E, et al: A statewide survey of domestic violence screening behaviors among pediatricians and family physicians. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002;156(4):332–332.Google Scholar
31.Siriphant, P, Drury, TF, Horowitz, AM, Harris, RM: Oral cancer knowledge and opinions among Maryland nurse practitioners. J Public Health Dent 2001;61:138–144.Google Scholar