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Steven M. Becker, PhD, Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, 1665 University Boulevard, Room 530, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, 205-934-6089, smbecker@uab.edu, Loretta Cormier, PhD, Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Birmingham, AL 35294-3350, Herman R. Foushee, PhD, Survey Research Unit, University of Alabama-Birmingham, School of Public Health, RPHB 434 B, Birmingham, AL 35294, and Linda Goodson, RN, Center for Community Health Resource Development, UAB School of Public Health, RPHB 514, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022.
Over the past several years, concern over "dirty bombs" and other forms of terrorism involving radioactive materials has grown dramatically. As a consequence, health departments, first responder organizations, and hospitals are all moving to enhance their readiness for this emerging threat. To better understand the information needs, perceptions, and responses of public health professionals and other professional groups vis-a-vis radiological/nuclear terrorism, a multi-state series of focus groups using a hypothetical terrorism scenario was conducted in 2003-2004. The series was part of a broader, multi-year CDC/ASPH project on crisis/emergency risk communication in weapons of mass destruction terrorism events. This paper highlights key findings for each of the three professional groups: public health (including epidemiologists, laboratory specialists, PH nurses, and environmentalists); first responders (including police, fire and EMTs); and hospital emergency department doctors and nurses. Major self-identified information needs related to radiological/nuclear terrorism are discussed for the three groups, as are sources of information they see as preferred or trusted. Also discussed are the perceptions, attitudes and chief concerns of public health and other professionals in relation to this specific type of threat. Finally, the implications of the findings for public health planning, training and risk communication are examined, and CDC/ASPH plans for follow-up research are described.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
Keywords: Disasters, Risk Communication
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.