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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sue Ann Sarpy, PhD, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-29, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-7150, ssarpy@tulane.edu, Christopher Warren, MS, PhD, Psychology Department, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840, Jill Bradley, MS, PhD, Craig School of Business, California State University, Fresno, 5245 North Backer Avenue, Fresno, CA 93740, Michael S. Christian, Management and Policy Department, University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, PO Box 210108, Tucson, AZ 85721-0108, and Seth Kaplan, MS, PhD, Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., MSN-3F5, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Purpose. In response to recent public health threats and disasters, greater emphasis has been placed on the use of exercises and drills to enhance the capacity of the public health workforce. However, research regarding their effectiveness remains limited. The present study attempts to fill this void by providing evidence of the impact of a tabletop exercise on participants' emergency preparedness and response six months following training. Method. A tabletop exercise designed to simulate worker recognition and response to a SARS event was delivered to public health workers and their external partners in Arkansas. Evaluation measures were developed to assess the effectiveness of the tabletop exercise in: (1) enhancing knowledge and skills associated with recognizing and responding to a SARS event; (2) identifying areas for improvement in participants' knowledge and skills and current emergency response plans. Results. Results demonstrated the effectiveness of the tabletop exercise in increasing participants' competency-related knowledge and skills. Quantitative analysis revealed that, six months following the tabletop exercise, respondents continued to feel that SARS was a potential threat to their community and that they had adequate knowledge and skills to effectively respond to a SARS event. The qualitative comments also supported the long-term impact of the exercise. Conclusion. The results demonstrate the sustained efficacy of exercises and drills in enhancing emergency preparedness and response of the public health workforce. Implications of these results will be discussed with respect to maintaining an accountable, responsible, and coordinated public health system needed to advance emergency preparedness and response training initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the importance of evaluating exercises and drills designed to enhance emergency preparedness and response of the public health workforce and their external partners.
• 2. Discuss the results of a follow-up evaluation of a tabletop exercise in recognizing and responding to SARS with respect to enhancing communication and coordination among exercise participants.
• 3. Recognize the importance of an evaluation and continuous improvement process in the development and use of exercises and drills to enhance emergency preparedness and response of the public health workforce and their external partners.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No