Effects of a mobile-based bioterrorism response program among clinical nurses: A quasi-experimental study

Background: To respond to unstable international security and the outbreak of new infectious diseases, clinical nurses should be equipped with bioterrorism response competencies. Objectives: This study developed a mobile-based bioterrorism response program for clinical nurses and examined its effectiveness on their knowledge of bioterrorism, attitude toward bioterrorism response, and bioterrorism response competencies. Design: A quasi-experimental study design was used. Setting: General or tertiary general hospitals in South Korea were considered. Participants: Participants were 45 clinical nurses (23 in the experimental group and 22 in the control). Methods: The mobile-based bioterrorism response program was conducted over three weeks in 10 sessions (total of 300 min). The knowledge of bioterrorism, attitude toward bioterrorism response, and bioterrorism response competencies were compared between two groups using paired t-test, and Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Satisfaction with the program was measured in the experimental group. Results: Upon completion of the mobile-based bioterrorism response program, the experimental group showed significant increases in knowledge of bioterrorism, attitude toward bioterrorism response, and bioterrorism response competencies. Conclusions: The mobile-based bioterrorism response program is expected to contribute to better preparedness for bioterrorism response systems in clinical practice. In addition, this program is expected to be of valuable use in bioterrorism education for nursing students as well as other healthcare professionals involved in bioterrorism response.