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Radiation Injury Treatment Network Medical and Nursing Workforce Radiation: Knowledge and Attitude Assessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2020

Tener Goodwin Veenema Open the ORCID record for Tener Goodwin Veenema [Opens in a new window] ,
Timothy P. Moran ,
Ziad Kazzi ,
Sarah Schneider-Firestone ,
Cullen Case  and
Jennifer Aldrich
Tener Goodwin Veenema*
Affiliation:
National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC; Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Timothy P. Moran
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Ziad Kazzi
Affiliation:
International Medical Toxicology Fellowship, Georgia Poison Center, Grady Occupational and Environmental Toxicology Clinic, Atlanta, Georgia
Sarah Schneider-Firestone
Affiliation:
Supporting Professional Advancement in Nursing (SPAN) Program, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
Cullen Case
Affiliation:
Business Continuity, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, Program Manager, Radiation Injury Treatment Network
Jennifer Aldrich
Affiliation:
RITN Program and NMDP Emergency Preparedness, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, Radiation Injury Treatment Network
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Tener Goodwin Veenema, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Acute and Chronic Care, Baltimore, MD21205 ([email protected]).
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Abstract

Objectives:

The Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN) is prepared to respond to a national disaster resulting in mass casualties with marrow toxic injuries. How effective existing RITN workforce education and training is, or whether health-care providers (HCPs) at these centers possess the knowledge and skills to care for patients following a radiation emergency is unclear. HCP knowledge regarding the medical effects and medical management of radiation-exposed patients, along with clinical competence and willingness to care for patients following a radiation emergency was assessed.

Methods:

An online survey was conducted to assess level of knowledge regarding the medical effects of radiation, medical/nursing management of patients, self-perception of clinical competence, and willingness to respond to radiation emergencies and nuclear events.

Results:

Attendance at previous radiation emergency management courses and overall knowledge scores were low for all respondents. The majority indicated they were willing to respond to a radiation event, but few believed they were clinically competent to do so.

Conclusions:

Despite willingness to respond, HCPs at RITN centers may not possess adequate knowledge of medical management of radiation patients, and appropriate response actions during a radiation emergency. RITN should increase the awareness of the importance of radiation education and training.

Keywords

disasterhealth-care providerspreparednessradiation
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 170 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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