Emergency Preparedness in Georgia: An Assessment of Public Health Training Needs

Abstract

In order to maintain a strong front against both terrorist and natural threats, it is incumbent upon the public health system to employ workers who possess the skills and knowledge required to protect the health of the nation. The aim of this study is to contribute to an understanding of the learning needs of the public health workforce as the needs relate to bioterrorism and emerging health threats. The findings of a competency-based needs assessment conducted for public health workers in the state of Georgia will be presented. Specifically, this study uses data collected from Georgia public health workers to: 1) identify the bioterrorism and emerging health threat competencies that are regarded as “important” and “very important” to job responsibilities; and 2) the corresponding self-reported current levels of ability for those competencies. The findings show a gap between the job responsibilities and the related abilities of Georgia's public health workforce. Although there is significant variability in the extent of these differences, it is apparent that the gap persists across all competencies.