Dataset Information

Ebola Risk and Preparedness: A National Survey of Internists.

ABSTRACT: The 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic centered in West Africa highlighted recurring challenges in the United States regarding risk communication and preparedness during global epidemics.To investigate perceptions, preparedness, and knowledge among U.S. internists with regard to Ebola risk.Cross-sectional Web-based national survey distributed by e-mail between December 2014 and January 2015.Practicing U.S. internists participating in a research panel representative of American College of Physicians (ACP) membership.Respondents' perceptions of Ebola, reported sources of information, and reported management of possible Ebola cases. The primary predictor was the possibility of encountering Ebola (based on respondents' geographic proximity to designated airports or confirmed Ebola cases, or on their patients' travel histories). Pre-specified outcomes included reported management intensity in clinical vignettes involving patients at low risk of symptomatic Ebola as well as reported Ebola preparedness.The survey response rate was 46.1 %. Among the 202 respondents, 9.9 % (95 % CI 6.2-14.9 %) reported that they had recently evaluated a patient who had traveled to West Africa. Seventy percent (95 % CI 63.0-76.0 %) reported a practice-level protocol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was the most popular source for Ebola information (75.2 %, 95 % CI 68.7-81.0 %). Most respondents felt very (45.0 %) or somewhat prepared (52.0 %) to communicate information about or diagnose Ebola, especially those with the possibility of encountering Ebola and those who reported medical journals, professional groups, or government as information sources. One-fifth of respondents (19.8 %, 95 % CI 14.5-26.0 %) reported overly intensive management for low-risk patients. Those with the possibility of encountering Ebola were less likely to report overly intensive management (3.1 vs. 22.9 %, p?=?0.011).Internists had wide-ranging views and understanding of Ebola risk; those least likely to encounter Ebola were most likely to be overly aggressive in managing patients at low risk. Our findings underscore the need for better risk communication through various information channels to empower frontline providers in infectious disease outbreaks.

SUBMITTER: Ganguli I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4762833 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ebola Risk and Preparedness: A National Survey of Internists.

Ganguli Ishani I Chang Yuchiao Y Weissman Arlene A Armstrong Katrina K Metlay Joshua P JP

Journal of general internal medicine 20150820 3

<h4>Background</h4>The 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic centered in West Africa highlighted recurring challenges in the United States regarding risk communication and preparedness during global epidemics.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate perceptions, preparedness, and knowledge among U.S. internists with regard to Ebola risk.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional Web-based national survey distributed by e-mail between December 2014 and January 2015.<h4>Participants</h4>Practicing U.S. inter ...[more]

PMID: 26289923

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Project description:ObjectiveEven as genomic medicine is implemented globally, there remains a lack of rigorous, national assessments of physicians' current genomic practice and continuing genomics education needs. The aim of this study was to address this gap.DesignA cross-sectional survey, informed by qualitative data and behaviour change theory, to assess the current landscape of Australian physicians' genomic medicine practice, perceptions of proximity and individual preparedness, and preferred models of practice and continuing education. The survey was advertised nationally through 10 medical colleges, 24 societies, 62 hospitals, social media, professional networks and snowballing.Results409 medical specialists across Australia responded, representing 30 specialties (majority paediatricians, 20%), from mainly public hospitals (70%) in metropolitan areas (75%). Half (53%) had contacted their local genetics services and half (54%) had ordered or referred for a gene panel or exome/genome sequencing test in the last year. Two-thirds (67%) think genomics will soon impact their practice, with a significant preference for models that involved genetics services (p<0.0001). Currently, respondents mainly perform tasks associated with pretest family history taking and counselling, but more respondents expect to perform tasks at all stages of testing in the future, including tasks related to the test itself, and reporting results. While one-third (34%) recently completed education in genomics, only a quarter (25%) felt prepared to practise. Specialists would like (more) education, particularly on genomic technologies and clinical utility, and prefer this to be through varied educational strategies.ConclusionsThis survey provides data from a breadth of physician specialties that can inform models of genetic service delivery and genomics education. The findings support education providers designing and delivering education that best meet learner needs to build a competent, genomic-literate workforce. Further analyses are underway to characterise early adopters of genomic medicine to inform strategies to increase engagement.

Dataset Information

Ebola Risk and Preparedness: A National Survey of Internists.

Publications

Ebola Risk and Preparedness: A National Survey of Internists.

Similar Datasets

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