Effect of Tabletop Exercises on Nurses' Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Preparedness: A
Peyman Nazari1, Esmail Parsai-Manesh1, Majid Dejbakht1
1Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran.
Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development
|February 2, 2026
Summary
Tabletop exercises (TTEs) significantly enhance nurses' knowledge, attitude, and preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. Preparedness showed the greatest improvement, highlighting the value of TTEs in disaster response training.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Disaster Preparedness
- Public Health Emergencies
Background:
- Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events pose significant global health risks.
- Nurses are critical frontline responders requiring specialized knowledge and readiness for CBRN emergencies.
- Simulation-based education, like tabletop exercises (TTEs), is effective for enhancing disaster preparedness in healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a CBRN-focused TTE on nurses' knowledge, attitude, and preparedness.
- To assess the effectiveness of TTEs in improving nursing competencies for high-risk events.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design was used with 60 hospital nurses in Iran.
- Validated questionnaires measured CBRN knowledge, attitude, and preparedness before and after a TTE.
- Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and Pearson correlations.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in nurses' knowledge (18.5% increase, P < .001), attitude (10.0% increase, P = .039), and preparedness (32.4% increase, P < .001) post-intervention.
- Preparedness demonstrated the most substantial relative improvement.
Conclusions:
- TTEs are effective in enhancing nursing competencies for CBRN response.
- The findings support integrating TTEs into professional development to bolster healthcare disaster readiness.
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