The Effect of Educational Intervention on Health Rescue and Treatment Employees’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Preparedness of Isfahan Police Force about Bioterrorism

Introduction: In the modern world, recognition of special kinds of terrorism attacks, bioterrorism prevention, and confrontation, must be prioritized. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention on knowledge, attitude, and preparedness of the Police health rescue employees on bioterrorism. Materials and Method: This quasi-experimental study was performed in 2019. The population was all of the employees in the Deputy of Health rescue and treatment of Police in Isfahan. The sample size was 30 experimental groups and 30 control groups. Data was gathered by 29 items’ questionnaire of knowledge, attitude, and preparedness about bioterrorism, designed by Hamzehpour and Khajehnasiri in 2015. Educational intervention was done via an 8 hours workshop which consists of bioterrorism etiology, diagnosis, and intervention subjects. Descriptive statistics and multiple analysis of covariance were used for data analysis by SPSS software version 24. Results: Mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and preparedness were not significantly different between the intervention and control groups before the intervention. The Mean score of knowledge (5.13±1.35), attitude (3.29±0.61), and preparedness (6.23±1.75) against bioterrorism in participants before intervention were in average level and after that was improved to (6.93±0.97), (4.13±0.51) and (10.26±2.50), respectively. Group training eta coefficient about bioterrorism was improved for employees’ knowledge (0.463), attitude (0.322), and staff’s Preparedness (0.413) (P< 0.05). There was no significant relationship between demographic variables (age, sex, education, and work experience) and none of the study variables (P> 0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed that group training can improve the knowledge, attitude, and preparedness of staff about bioterrorism. Therefore, Up-to-date information and preparedness to deal with bioterrorism are essential for health and rescue and treatment employees as the first line of defense.