title: Are Tertiary Care Paediatricians Prepared for Disaster Situations?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children, with their specific vulnerabilities and needs, make up to more than 20% of society, so they are at risk of getting involved in disasters. Are the specialists treating them for medical problems in daily life also capable to deal with them in disaster situations?
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goals of this study were to evaluate perceived knowledge and capability of tertiary pediatricians to deal with disasters, to identify promoting factors, and to evaluate education need and willingness to work.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey looking for demographics, hospital disaster planning, estimated risk and capability for disasters, training, and willingness to work, and a set of six content assessment questions to evaluate knowledge, were presented to emergency pediatricians and pediatric emergency physicians in specialized tertiary centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 51%. Thirty-five percent had disaster training and 53% felt that disaster education should be obligatory in their curriculum. Risk for disasters was estimated from 2.4/10 for nuclear incidents to 7.6/10 for major trauma. Self-estimated capability for these situations ranged from 1.8/10 in nuclear incidents to 7.6/10 in major trauma. Unconditional willingness to work ranged from 37% in nuclear situations to 68% in pandemics. Mean score on the questions was 2.06/6. Training, knowledge of antidote and personal protective equipment (PPE) use, self-estimated capability, and exposure were significant predictors for higher scores. Willingness to work correlated significantly with age, self-estimated capability, and risk estimation. In case of chemical and nuclear incidents, there was correlation with knowledge on the use of decontamination, PPE, and radio-detection devices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a clear perception of the risks and a high willingness to work, preparedness is limited. The major conclusion is that basics of disaster management should be included in pediatric training.
authors: 1Department Emergency Medicine,ZNA Camp Stuivenberg,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors: Luc J M
authors: LJ
authors: Mortelmans
authors: 3Paediatric Intensive Care Unit,University Hospital,Ghent,Belgium.
authors: Sofie
authors: S
authors: Maebe
authors: 1Department Emergency Medicine,ZNA Camp Stuivenberg,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors: Greet
authors: G
authors: Dieltiens
authors: 1Department Emergency Medicine,ZNA Camp Stuivenberg,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Anseeuw
authors: 2Center for Research and Education in Emergency Care,Leuven,Belgium.
authors: Marc B
authors: MB
authors: Sabbe
authors: 3Paediatric Intensive Care Unit,University Hospital,Ghent,Belgium.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Van de Voorde
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D000072143:Pediatricians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063128:Tertiary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: IC intensive care; PPE personal protective equipment; disaster preparedness; pediatric; tertiary center; willingness to work