Survey of nursing knowledge on bioterrorism.
With the aim of identifying intervention programmes within the framework of basic and permanent nursing training, we evaluated the knowledge of 187 nurses and nursing students concerning biological emergencies. A questionnaire was used to identify their knowledge of the pathogens that may be used in a terrorist attack and measures for containing them, and their perception of the danger to public health. Analysis of the responses showed that the undergraduates studying for the Triennial Degree were the best informed, and those studying for the specialist degree were the least informed. The question relating to the precautions adopted against transmission of Bacillus anthracis was the most predictive of the total score because it was the only one with a substantial number of correct answers (79/187). It seems that the information derived more from the generalist media than from academic training. We conclude that there is a need to train qualified personnel capable of responding to a possible emergency in terms of both preventive and interventional medicine.
Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
M
M
De Felice
A R
AR
Giuliani
G
G
Alfonsi
G
G
Mosca
L
L
Fabiani
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007558:Italy; D008402:Mass Media; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires