title: Development of an on-line bioterrorism preparedness course.
abstract: To reach a large audience of public health workers and others interested in learning more about bioterrorism and emergency preparedness, an on-line, Web-based, certificated course entitled "Terrorism, Preparedness and Public Health: An Introduction" was planned, developed, and implemented. Interactivity and other user-friendly devices helped it gain acceptance. To date (May 2005), more than 6,000 people from all 50 states and some foreign countries have registered for the course, and about 2,400 have passed an exam for a certificate of completion. We believe the success of this course is related to the strength and accuracy of the content and its historical perspective; to the quality of the technical development, including multiple levels of interactivity, ease of use, and a printed completion certificate; and to the use of real case studies and the lack of dramatic overstatement.
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Health Preparedness, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Circle, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA. westphal@albany.edu
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jewell
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skawinski
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D023482:Bioterrorism; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet