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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Chiehwen Ed Hsu, PhD, MPH, Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, 2387 HHP Building, Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742, 301-405-8161, edhsu@umd.edu, Francisco Soto, MD, PhD, MPH, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of North Texas School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie, ME1-514, Fort Worth, TX 20742, and Holly E. Jacobson, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion & Recreation, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 310769, Denton, TX 76203-0769.

State officials are in need of information on health providers' knowledge and experience related to public health preparedness and response. Supported by the Texas Department of State Healthcare Services, this study sought to assess the public health emergency experiences and training needs of physicians and veterinarians in North Texas. Data were collected through both a mailed questionnaire and Web-based survey, and were entered into an Access relational database for analysis and reporting. The mean response rate for both professional categories averaged 32%, with veterinarians recording a higher response rate (34.5% vs 30%). Results suggest that similarities exist in both professional categories. These included the finding that Spanish is the most frequent language other than English spoken by participants; chemical exposure and botulism are the most commonly seen and treated emergencies; and respondents prefer small group, instructor workshops, or self-paced CD-ROM based training tutorials. Additionally, most respondents in both categories had limited public health emergency experience, and were not confident in their ability to handle such events. On the other hand, the study found significant differences between the two professional categories: more veterinarians than physicians have seen cases of anthrax (15.7% vs. 2.5%), and more physicians (46%) than vets (38%) were willing and able to participate in a state-led preparedness plan. This paper presents the methods and results of the study, and discusses the health care implications of the findings, including the benefits of community-academia partnerships.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the training needs of physicians and veterinarians in public health preparedness and response.
• Outline a research method for assessing the emergency-related training needs of health care providers.
• Define the limitations of rural communities in meeting their emergency preparedness and response needs, and the implications for preparedness planning.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Emergency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered