title: Identifying the gaps between biodefense researchers, public health, and clinical practice in a rural community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is essential for health care professionals to be prepared for a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. We sought to determine how well biodefense and emerging infectious disease research information was being disseminated to rural health care providers, first responders, and public health officials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted at a federally funded research institution and a rural community in Washington state with 10 subjects, including researchers, community physicians and other health care providers, first responders, and public health officials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interviews suggest there is inadequate information dissemination regarding biodefense and emerging infectious disease research and an overall lack of preparedness for a bioterrorist event among rural clinicians and first responders. Additionally, a significant communication gap exists between public health and clinical practice regarding policies for bioterrorism and emerging infectious disease. There was, however, support and understanding for the research enterprise in bioterrorism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biodefense preparedness and availability of information about emerging infectious diseases continues to be a problem. Methods for information dissemination and the relationships between public health officials and clinicians in rural communities need to be improved.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195-6340, USA. jesvan@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Van Fleet-Green
authors.forename: Frederick M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: House
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism; D015510:Clinical Medicine; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004189:Disaster Planning; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012108:Research Personnel; D012424:Rural Population; D014861:Washington