Introduction: An intentional release of a biological agent by terrorists or a naturally occurring outbreak of an emerging infection may pose a momentous challenge to the US public health infrastructure. The rapid identification and management of these outbreaks will require highly trained public health professionals (PHPs). A needs assessment survey was developed to evaluate PHP educational priorities for bioterrorism and emerging infections as well as the best medium to deliver these materials.
Methods: A comprehensive listing of health departments was obtained from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Surveys were sent to public health departments throughout the US (N=3,811) as follows: One survey each to 2,926 local health departments, four surveys each (n=600) to health departments located in the 120 cities that received initial funding for training under the 1997 Nunn-Lugar-Domenici legislation, and five surveys each (n=285) to State Epidemiologists. The mailings of multiple surveys to the "120 cities" and State Epidemiologists included a request to distribute the additional surveys among other health department PHPs. Each respondent completed a 35-question needs assessment to determine their perception of the risk for bioterrorism and emerging infections, the likelihood that current surveillance methods could identify the incident, the likelihood that a PHP would seek out training on these topics, preferred delivery method, format for training and quick reference materials, and participants' access to various technologies.
Results: As of January 2001, the return rate was 33.3% (n=1254). We plan to present the resulting analysis of the collected needs assessment data.
See www.bioterrorism.slu.eduLearning Objectives: 1. Describe the risk perception of the public health workforce regarding bioterrorism and emerging infections. 2. Identify the delivery methods preferred by public health professionals for training and quick reference materials on bioterrorism and emerging infections.
Keywords: Education, Workforce
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Saint Louis University School of Public Health, Center for the Study of Bioterrorism and Emerging Infections
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.