Do Health-Care Students Know About Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear Weapons?

• Published in: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness 2023-01, Vol.17, p.e54-e54, Article e54
• Main Author: Yigitbas, Cagla
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological & chemical weapons; Chemical weapons; Chi-square test; Cross-Sectional Studies; Curricula; Delivery of Health Care; Education; Health care; Health Personnel; Health sciences; Health services; Humans; Medical laboratories; Medical personnel; Medicine; Midwifery; Nuclear Weapons; Nurses; Original Research; Paramedics; Perceptions; Professionals; Public health; Sociodemographics; Software; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Training; Variables; Weapons
• ISSN: 1935-7893; 1938-744X
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.307

The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of students receiving different levels of health-care education (doctors, nurses, paramedics) on chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear weapons (CBRNW). This study was designed as a qualitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research. The study reached 87.68% of the population. A survey form was created by the researcher in line with the literature. Ethical permission and verbal consents were obtained. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews. It was observed that there was no difference between the enrolled departments, that the participants had very low levels of knowledge on the subject despite considering it a likely threat for Turkey, and that they thought the public and the health-care professionals in this field had insufficient knowledge. Sex, age, and field education were the variables that created a difference. Training regarding CBRNW should be further questioned and individuals should receive ongoing training to increase and update their knowledge and skills.