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David Cook, PhD1, Craig A. Molgaard, PhD, MPH2, Elizabeth Ablah, MA2, Ruth Wetta-Hall, RN, MPH, MSN2, Doren D. Fredrickson, MD, PhD2, Dulcie Chance, EdM2, Amy Chesser, MAC3, Teresa L. Jones, MPH, MT(ASCP)2, Ruby Jane Davis, BS4, Dale Grube, MA5, Marta Skalacki, BA1, Robert Smoot, MS4, and Mary Beth Warren, RN, MS, CPHQ4. (1) Health & Technology Outreach, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Mail Stop 3024, Kansas City, KS 66160-7171, 913-588-2226, dcook@kumc.edu, (2) Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 1010 N. Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214, (3) Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1010 N. Kansas Avenue, Wichita, KS 67214, (4) Outreach, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Outreach - Hays, Mail Stop 0, 217 East 32 Street, Hays, KS 67601, (5) Continuing Education, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 2003 Student Center, Mail Stop 4001, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160-7108
“Can it Happen in Kansas: Response to Terrorism and Emerging Infections” training, one component of a multifaceted bioterrorism preparedness plan for Kansas, prepares a Kansas health care workforce to address the medical consequences of terrorism that result from exposure to biologic, agriterrorist, and other public health emergencies. Part of a holistic response to terrorism and emerging infections plan, the goal of the training is to train 10% (4,580) of Kansas’ multidisciplinary health professionals over two years. In the first month of training, from December 3 to 15, 2003, more than 994 health professionals at six locations.
Methods A bioterrorism preparedness questionnaire was implemented before, immediately after, and three months after the eight-hour training in a pre-test, post-test design (Cook & Campbell, 1979). The post-test response rate was 83%.
Results After participating in the bioterrorism preparedness training, participants were significantly better able to: recognize a public health emergency (t(803) = -19.990, p < .01), meet the acute care needs of patients (t(794) = -11.703, p < . 01), rapidly and effectively alert the public health system at all levels (t(775) = -14.461, p < .01) and participate in a coordinated, multidisciplinary response (t(794) = -10.441, p < .01). Implications
If adapted to the needs of other states, the “Can it Happen in Kansas? Response to Terrorism and Emerging Infections” curriculum might serve as useful tool to train health care workers nationwide.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Bioterrorism, Health Workers Training
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.