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Identifying the Gaps Between Biodefense Researchers, Public Health, and Clinical Practice in a Rural Community
Author(s) -
Van FleetGreen Jessica M.,
Chen Frederick M.,
House Peter
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2008.00177.x
Subject(s) - biodefense , preparedness , public health , medicine , health care , infectious disease (medical specialty) , emerging infectious disease , information dissemination , environmental health , community health , public relations , disease , nursing , political science , pathology , world wide web , computer science , law
Objective:It is essential for health care professionals to be prepared for a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. We sought to determine how well biodefense and emerging infectious disease research information was being disseminated to rural health care providers, first responders, and public health officials. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted at a federally funded research institution and a rural community in Washington state with 10 subjects, including researchers, community physicians and other health care providers, first responders, and public health officials. Results: The interviews suggest there is inadequate information dissemination regarding biodefense and emerging infectious disease research and an overall lack of preparedness for a bioterrorist event among rural clinicians and first responders. Additionally, a significant communication gap exists between public health and clinical practice regarding policies for bioterrorism and emerging infectious disease. There was, however, support and understanding for the research enterprise in bioterrorism. Conclusions: Biodefense preparedness and availability of information about emerging infectious diseases continues to be a problem. Methods for information dissemination and the relationships between public health officials and clinicians in rural communities need to be improved.