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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Richard W. Niska, MD, MPH and Catharine W. Burt, EdD. National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3310 Toledo Road, Room 3319, Hyattsville, MD 20782, (301) 458-4340, rniska@cdc.gov

PURPOSE: To study associations between terrorism preparedness training and demographic and practice characteristics among office-based physicians.

METHODS: The 2003 and 2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey used a multi-stage random sampling design including geographic primary sampling units and physician practices within those units. Physicians were sampled from the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association Masterfiles. Of 3968 in-scope physicians, the average response rate from both years was 56.3%. Dependent variables were training for smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, tularemia, hemorrhagic fever, viral encephalitis, chemicals and nuclear materials. Independent variables were physician and practice characteristics (age, degree, specialty, region, urban-rural location and managed care involvement). Associations were tested with chi-squares and t-tests in SUDAAN-9.1, with significance at p<0.05.

RESULTS: Less than half of physicians had trained for at least one exposure. Primary care and medical specialists were trained more frequently than surgeons for all individual exposures. Training for at least one exposure was lowest among physicians aged 55-69 years, compared to younger and older groups. Physicians in managed care were trained more frequently than others in all exposures except botulism. There were no significant differences by degree, urban-rural location or region.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary care and medical specialists, managed care physicians, and the younger and oldest physicians were trained more often for terrorism exposures than surgeons, managed care non-participants, and those in late middle age. Training levels were low for all exposures and all physician groups, highlighting the vulnerability of office-based physicians and their need for terrorism preparedness education.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the frequency of training for biological, chemical and radiological exposures among office-based physicians.
• Identify physician demographic and practice characteristics associated with preparedness for terrorism-related exposures.
• Discuss areas in which the level of terrorism-preparedness training could be enhanced among different types of office-based physicians.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Ambulatory Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No