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Terrorism preparedness training for occupational health professionals
Robyn R M Gershon1, Donald H Gemson, Kristine Qureshi
1Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 1032, USA. rg405@columbia.edu
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|December 14, 2004
Summary
Occupational health professionals gained confidence in terrorism response after training. However, most felt unprepared for bioterrorism events and mental health support needs, indicating a need for more intensive preparedness training.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Disaster Preparedness
- Public Health Security
Background:
- Terrorism presents unique challenges to public health and requires specialized preparedness.
- Occupational health professionals play a critical role in responding to and mitigating the impact of terrorism events.
- Assessing the current state of preparedness among these professionals is vital for effective response strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the terrorism preparedness of occupational health professionals.
- To assess their perceptions of worksite readiness for terrorism events.
- To understand their confidence levels in managing casualties and providing mental health support post-attack.
Main Methods:
- Data collected via questionnaires post-disaster response educational workshop.
- Focus on self-reported confidence in clinical skills and exposure avoidance.
- Assessed perceptions of employer preparedness and mental health counseling readiness.
Main Results:
- Workshop increased participant confidence in clinical skills and avoiding exposure during terrorist attacks.
- Only 32% of participants believed their employer was prepared for bioterrorism.
- A significant 75% felt unprepared to offer mental health counseling following an attack.
Conclusions:
- Brief terrorism preparedness training enhances occupational health professionals' confidence.
- Current training may be insufficient for the wide spectrum of potential terrorism events.
- More intensive and comprehensive training is recommended to ensure adequate preparedness.