 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kristen Clements-Nolle, PhD, MPH, University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Health Ecology / 274, Reno, NV 89557-0036, 775-784-4041 ext. 234, clements@unr.edu, Deborah Ballard-Reisch, PhD, Department of Health Ecology, University of Nevada, Mail Stop/274, Lombardi Building, Reno, NV 89557, and Jim Najima, Health Division, State of Nevada, 505 E. King Street, Room 201, Carson City, NV 89701.
Background: In response to the Homeland Security initiative to improve public health preparedness, the CDC funded the Nevada State Health Division to develop a bioterrorism preparedness plan. The Health Division partnered with the University of Nevada Reno, Department of Health Ecology to develop and implement a grounded approach to identifying risk communication needs throughout the state.
Methods: An innovative two-semester bioterrorism risk communication course combining academic theory and hands-on-experience was developed. Ten undergraduate and graduate students were selected to participate in the project (tuition reimbursement and textbooks were provided). Students were trained in risk and crisis communication theory, bioterrorism, and research methodology. Students were equal partners in all aspects of the project, including protocol and instrument development, data collection and analysis, and report writing. Through this initiative 20 needs assessment focus groups were conducted with various stakeholder populations, including medical providers, elected officials, emergency responders, tribal health directors, and the public (e.g. homeless, low income, rural and senior populations). Telephone interviews were conducted with 82 media representatives, community health nurses, and county health officers to assess their bioterrorism information needs. In addition, 88 local and national bioterrorism websites were analyzed to evaluate availabilty and quality of information.
Results/Discussion: This ongoing collaboration has proven to be cost effective for the Health Division and has provided students with applied public health planning, research, and communication skills. Tailoring academic courses to address urgent public health issues is an innovative way to train future public health professionals and improve the local public health infrastructure.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Bioterrorism, Collaboration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.