title: Factors affecting emergency preparedness competency of public health inspectors: a cross-sectional study in northeastern China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the emergency preparedness competency specific to public health inspectors (PHIs), preparedness limitations and needs of the workforce, as well as to identify important factors that affect the preparedness competency of PHIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey was conducted in Heilongjiang, a province in northeastern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 368 PHIs from 17 public health inspection agencies, chosen by stratified cluster sampling strategy. 9 PHIs and 6 agency's leaders were invited to participate in an in-depth interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-rated preparedness competency in quantitative study was measured. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to test the associations between individual determinants and self-rated preparedness competency. Key themes relating to preparedness competency of PHIs in qualitative study were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 82% of PHIs highly rated their general preparedness competency, there were significant differences among the assessment on specific domains of their competency. Comparing with attitude, the domains of skills and knowledge tend to be lower (p=0.000). Awareness on one's own responsibilities regarding emergency response work was identified as the most important factor associated with preparedness competency (adjusted OR=6.33, 95% CI 3.30 to 12.16). Lack of explicit national job requirements, overlapping responsibilities and poor collaboration among agencies, together with poor knowledge and skills level of personnel, led to an ambiguity of responsibility, and hindered the preparedness competency enhancement of PHIs furthermore.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ambiguity responsibility in emergency response is still a prominent issue that hinders the further improvement on the preparedness competency for PHIs' in China. Intensified capacity-building activities targeting at individuals' weakness in specific knowledge and skills are urgently needed; in addition, capacity building at policy and system level as well as agency levels is of equal importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Mingli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qunhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D002959:Civil Defense; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: PUBLIC HEALTH