Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward bioterrorism preparedness among nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Biosecurity
• Public Health
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Bioterrorism preparedness is a critical aspect of biosecurity.
• Nurses, as the largest healthcare workforce, are vital in addressing bioterrorism threats.
• Understanding nurses' current knowledge, attitudes, and practices is essential for effective preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of bioterrorism knowledge, attitudes, and practices among nurses.
• To explore the interrelationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
• To identify demographic factors influencing nurses' bioterrorism preparedness.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive correlational study involving 429 nurses from five tertiary hospitals in Tianjin.
• Data collected via a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
• Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression, adhering to STROBE guidelines.

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated satisfactory knowledge (33.06±4.87) and good attitudes (23.83±5.23) but poor practices (10.94±6.51) regarding bioterrorism.
• Significant negative correlations were found between knowledge and attitudes (r=-0.38) and knowledge and practices (r=-0.42).
• Positive correlation observed between attitudes and practices (r=0.21). Educational level, years of experience, and prior bioterrorism education influenced knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Conclusions:

• A notable gap exists between nurses' knowledge/attitudes and their practical preparedness for bioterrorism.
• Negative correlations suggest knowledge may not translate into practice without specific training.
• Strengthening continuing medical education and implementing regular bioterrorism-specific training and drills are recommended to enhance preparedness.