@article{ref1,
title="Nurses' and medical officers' knowledge, attitude, and preparedness toward potential bioterrorism attacks",
journal="SAGE open nursing",
year="2019",
author="Sarpong, Limmy and Junior, Kumah K. and Garti, Isabella and Aboagye, Janet S. and Addo, Stella B. and Atakro, Confidence A. and Menlah, Awube and Amoa-Gyarteng, Kwaku G. and Blay, Alice A. and Agyare, Dorcas F.",
volume="5",
number="",
pages="e2377960819844378-e2377960819844378",
abstract="Terrorist attacks are increasingly becoming more lethal and less discriminate. The threat of bioterrorism is increasing daily. The ease of production and the broad  availability of biological agents and technical know-how have led to a further  spread of biological weapons and an increased desire among nations as well as  terrorists to have them. Health professionals in emergency departments are expected  to play crucial roles in the management of victims of bioterrorism when bioterrorism  occurs. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency  department nurses and medical officers (MOs) toward potential bioterrorist attacks  in Ghana. This qualitative study utilized focus group discussions and semistructured  interviews to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency  department nurses and MOs toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. Data were  subjected to a qualitative content analysis in which three main thematic categories  were developed. These thematic categories are as follows: (a) differences in  bioterrorism knowledge between emergency department nurses and emergency department  MOs, (b) unprepared emergency department nurses and MOs for care during bioterrorism  attacks, and (c) positive attitudes of emergency department nurses and MOs toward  bioterrorism preparedness. Although emergency MOs had better knowledge of  bioterrorism than their nursing counterparts, both groups of health professionals  were unprepared to respond to any form of bioterrorism. Both nurses and MOs  indicated the need for staff education and infrastructure readiness to be able to  respond effectively to a bioterrorist attack. A well-prepared emergency department  and health professionals against bioterrorism could prevent high casualty rates in a  bioterrorist attack and also serve a dual purpose of dealing with other natural  disasters when they occur.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2377-9608",
doi="10.1177/2377960819844378",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2377960819844378"
}