BACKGROUND: The role of physicians in the detection, reporting, and response to infectious disease outbreaks, anomalous biologic events, or other public health emergencies is critical to the community's safety. OBJECTIVE/ METHOD: In an effort to assess the level of preparedness of local physicians to respond to such events, the City of Fort Worth Public Health Department, the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Health Authority, and the Tarrant County Medical Society collaborated in designing and administering a cross-sectional study in spring 2006. RESULTS: The results serve as a baseline of the local clinical community's preparedness, with 91% of local physicians reporting their knowledge as "fair-poor," 80% desiring more information, and 83% favoring more training opportunities. CONCLUSION: Information obtained through this assessment is used to help cultivate educational interventions that will enhance the participation, integration, and mobilization of clinicians in the event of a community emergency.
BACKGROUND: The role of physicians in the detection, reporting, and response to infectious disease outbreaks, anomalous biologic events, or other public health emergencies is critical to the community's safety. OBJECTIVE/ METHOD: In an effort to assess the level of preparedness of local physicians to respond to such events, the City of Fort Worth Public Health Department, the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Health Authority, and the Tarrant County Medical Society collaborated in designing and administering a cross-sectional study in spring 2006. RESULTS: The results serve as a baseline of the local clinical community's preparedness, with 91% of local physicians reporting their knowledge as "fair-poor," 80% desiring more information, and 83% favoring more training opportunities. CONCLUSION: Information obtained through this assessment is used to help cultivate educational interventions that will enhance the participation, integration, and mobilization of clinicians in the event of a community emergency.
Authors: Zhou Zhiheng; Wang Caixia; Wang Jiaji; Yang Huajie; Wang Chao; Liang Wannian Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2012-09-25 Impact factor: 2.655