Volume 10, Issue 4 (Summer 2025)
Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly 2025, 10(4): 271-278 |
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Ghavami V, Asadi M, Kokabi-Saghi F, Shabanikiya H. Nurses’ Preparedness Toward Bioterrorism and Related Factors: A Multicenter Study. Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly 2025; 10 (4) :271-278
URL: http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-660-en.html
URL: http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-660-en.html
1- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3- Department of Health Economics and Management Sciences, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4- Department of Health Economics and Management Sciences, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. & Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. ,shabanikiahr@mums.ac.ir
2- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3- Department of Health Economics and Management Sciences, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4- Department of Health Economics and Management Sciences, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. & Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. ,
Abstract: (248 Views)
Background: Today, bioterrorism has drawn the attention of disaster response organizations such as hospitals and nurses are at the front line of hospitals’ response to bioterrorism. This study examined nurses’ preparedness against bioterrorist attacks and related factors.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 529 nurses from 9 hospitals in North Khorasan Province, Iran. A questionnaire with three dimensions, knowledge, risk perception, and personal preparedness, was used to collect data. The scores for preparedness in the three dimensions and the total score were calculated based on 100 points
Results: The Mean±SD scores of knowledge, risk perception, personal preparedness and the total score were 3.57±11.33, 85.95±8.10, 14.95±29.47 and 37.74±6.84, respectively. There were positive statistical relationships between knowledge and female gender (P<0.001), holding a bachelor’s degree (P<0.001) and receiving bioterrorism training/exercises (P<0.001). Also, there were positive relationships between risk perception and female gender (P<0.05) and holding a master’s degree or higher (P<0.001). In addition, there were positive statistical relationships between personal preparedness and female gender (P<0.05), holding a bachelor’s degree (P<0.001), receiving bioterrorism training (P<0.05) and work experience (P<0.001). Finally, there were positive statistical relationships between total score of preparedness and female gender (P<0.001) and receiving bioterrorism training/exercises (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Findings revealed that nurses’ risk perception scored relatively high, but their knowledge and personal preparedness were alarmingly low. This finding suggests that while nurses recognize the potential threats posed by bioterrorism, they may lack the training to respond effectively. Based on the results of our study, the preparedness of the studied nurses toward bioterrorism was low, and various factors contributed to it. Because of nurses’ lack of knowledge, bioterrorism training is highly recommended.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 529 nurses from 9 hospitals in North Khorasan Province, Iran. A questionnaire with three dimensions, knowledge, risk perception, and personal preparedness, was used to collect data. The scores for preparedness in the three dimensions and the total score were calculated based on 100 points
Results: The Mean±SD scores of knowledge, risk perception, personal preparedness and the total score were 3.57±11.33, 85.95±8.10, 14.95±29.47 and 37.74±6.84, respectively. There were positive statistical relationships between knowledge and female gender (P<0.001), holding a bachelor’s degree (P<0.001) and receiving bioterrorism training/exercises (P<0.001). Also, there were positive relationships between risk perception and female gender (P<0.05) and holding a master’s degree or higher (P<0.001). In addition, there were positive statistical relationships between personal preparedness and female gender (P<0.05), holding a bachelor’s degree (P<0.001), receiving bioterrorism training (P<0.05) and work experience (P<0.001). Finally, there were positive statistical relationships between total score of preparedness and female gender (P<0.001) and receiving bioterrorism training/exercises (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Findings revealed that nurses’ risk perception scored relatively high, but their knowledge and personal preparedness were alarmingly low. This finding suggests that while nurses recognize the potential threats posed by bioterrorism, they may lack the training to respond effectively. Based on the results of our study, the preparedness of the studied nurses toward bioterrorism was low, and various factors contributed to it. Because of nurses’ lack of knowledge, bioterrorism training is highly recommended.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Quantitative
Received: 2024/09/20 | Accepted: 2025/01/19 | Published: 2025/07/9
Received: 2024/09/20 | Accepted: 2025/01/19 | Published: 2025/07/9
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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
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