Disaster medicine training survey results for dental health care providers in Illinois.
BACKGROUND
Ongoing vigilance by governments, public health agencies and health care professionals monitoring potential epidemic and pandemic outbreaks, terrorist threats and ever-present natural disasters requires the continuous evolution of comprehensive disaster response plans and teams, which include the integration of oral health care professionals.


METHODS
The authors conducted a study in which oral health care professionals assessed their training in the American Medical Association's (AMA's) National Disaster Life Support (NDLS) courses. At the conclusion of each instructional session, the authors asked participants to complete an anonymous course evaluation form to report their impressions of the training activity. The authors included in the analysis those evaluations associated with sessions attended almost exclusively by dentists and hygienists.


RESULTS
The authors derived descriptive statistics from the selected course evaluations. Overall, oral health care professionals believed that the Core Disaster Life Support (CDLS) and Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) courses were of great educational value, rating course impact at 9.50 and 9.29, respectively, on a scale from 1 to 10.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistical evaluation instruments reveal satisfaction with the all-hazards awareness training received through the AMA's NDLS disaster medicine training curriculum. Licensed oral health care professionals in Illinois accepted the utility and merits of, and benefited from, the four-hour CDLS and eight-hour BDLS certification programs. Practice Implications. Dental professionals in Illinois require minimal additional training for dental emergency responder duties. The AMA's NDLS curriculum provides effective preparation for dental professionals.
Colvard
Michael D
MD
Disaster Emergency Medicine Readiness Training Center, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Naiman
Melissa I
MI
Mata
Danielle
D
Cordell
Geoffrey A
GA
Lampiris
Lewis
L
D000574:American Medical Association; D003815:Dentists; D004189:Disaster Planning; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D024382:Professional Role; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States