Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-01T09:31:28.307Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2021

Cagla Yigitbas Open the ORCID record for Cagla Yigitbas [Opens in a new window]
Cagla Yigitbas*
Affiliation:
Giresun University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Giresun, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: Cagla Yigitbas, Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

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).

Methods:

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.

Results:

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.

Conclusion:

Training regarding CBRNW should be further questioned and individuals should receive ongoing training to increase and update their knowledge and skills.

Keywords

chemical biological radioactive nuclear weaponshealth-care studentsknowledge
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e54
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Reynolds, C. Global Health Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction Chapter. In: Global Health Security. New York: Springer; 2020:187-207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sandström, BE, Eriksson, H, Norlander, L, et al. Training of public health personnel in handling CBRN emergencies: a table-top exercise card concept. Environ Int. 2014;72:164-169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ekzayez, A, Flecknoe, MD, Lillywhite, L, et al. Chemical weapons and public health: assessing impact and responses. J Public Health. 2020;42(3):e334-e342.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doğanalp, T. Weapons of mass destruction in international law and initiatives for disarmament. J Int Manage Social Res. 2016;3(4):15-28.Google Scholar
Barbosa, F. Emergency health care system and its role in national disasters. J Humanities Insights. 2018;2(01):14-20.Google Scholar
Gautam, S, Sharma, N, Sharma, RK, et al. Human patient simulator based CBRN casualty management training. Defence Life Sci J. 2017;2(1):80-84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kako, M, Hammad, K, Mitani, S, et al. Existing approaches to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) education and training for health professionals: findings from an integrative literature review. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(2):182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hu, X, Chen, H, Yu, M. Exploring the non-technical competencies for on-scene public health responders in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear emergencies: a qualitative study. Public Health. 2020;183:23-29.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yılmaz, S. Weapons of mass destruction and disarmament: the case of the Middle East [Master Thesis]: Gazı University Institute Of Social Sciences, Gazı University; 2015.Google Scholar
CBRN. Prevent, detect and respond: coordinating an effective and resilient response to the CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) threat. 2019. 2019 CBRN Summit & Live Exercise- 11-113 Nov, Geneva (defenceiq.com). Accessed October 2, 2021.Google Scholar
Kaya, HE. Nuclear weapons in the framework of international legal norms. XI. IBANESS Congress Series; 2019; Tekirdag/Turkey.Google Scholar
Galatchi, L. Chemical and biological defense in the South-Eastern European Countries. In: Functional Nanostructures and Sensors for CBRN Defence and Environmental Safety and Security. New York: Springer; 2020:185-193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aslan Huyar, D, Esin, MN. Assessing nursing students’ knowledge levels, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats and dangers using newly developed tools. J Adv Studies Health Sci. 2021;4(1):20-30.Google Scholar
Sarıtaş, SÇ, Kızıl, AB, Sarıtaş, S. Emergency service nurse’s knowledge and opinions about bioterrorism. Bozok Med J. 2013;3(2):29-36.Google Scholar
Renn-Żurek, A, Łopacińska, I, Tokarski, Z, et al. Assessment of bioterrorism awareness in a group of nurses. MicroMed. 2015;3(1):20-25.Google Scholar
Doğan, G. The Study of Determining Information, Training and Exercise Needs of Institutions Against KBRN Events: The Case of Gümüşhane and Trabzon Provinces. Department of Disaster Management, Gümüşhane University; 2019.Google Scholar
Sevinç, Ö, Güner, Y, Ayşen, T. Knowledge levels of personnels who work at stations of 112 emergency health services of province of Canakkale on disaster medicine. Pamukkale Med J. 2018;11(2):119-125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erkekoğlu, P, Koçer-Gümüşel, B. Chemical warfare agents: history, toxicity, detection and preparedness. Hacettepe University J Faculty Pharm. 2018;38(1):24-38.Google Scholar
Wiesner, L, Kappler, S, Shuster, A, et al. Disaster training in 24 hours: evaluation of a novel medical student curriculum in disaster medicine. J Emerg Med. 2018;54(3):348-353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Footer, KH, Clouse, E, Rayes, D, et al. Qualitative accounts from Syrian health professionals regarding violations of the right to health, including the use of chemical weapons, in opposition-held Syria. BMJ Open. 2018;8(8):e021096.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valkanova, E, Kostadinov, R, Etova, R, et al. Healthcare providers’ readiness for management of incidents with weapons of mass destruction. J IMAB. 2019;25(3):2640-2643.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kızılkaya, M. Determination of Preparatory Perceptions and Knowledge Levels of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Department of Emergency and Disaster Management Students Against CBRN Events. Department of Disaster Education and Management, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University; 2020.Google Scholar
Öner, U. CBRN knowledge levels of family physicians providing primary health care and 112 emergency and first aid medical personnel. Emergency Medical Clinic, Health Sciences University; 2020.Google Scholar
Demirağ, H, Hintistan, S, Dsğan, ES, et al. Examination of the information and opinions of paramedic students on bioterrorism and biological agents. J Duzce University Health Sci Instit. 2019;9(2):49-56.Google Scholar
Atakro, CA, Addo, SB, Aboagye, JS, et al. Nurses’ and medical officers’ knowledge, attitude, and preparedness toward potential bioterrorism attacks. SAGE Open Nurs. 2019;5:2377960819844378.Google ScholarPubMed
Özdem, A, Karahan, A. Chemical Fight in the World and in Turkey. 1st ed. T.R. Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock; 2018.Google Scholar
TC OG. Duty regulation for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats 2020.Google Scholar