PubMed1998
The aim of this investigation was to describe the disaster preparedness concerning hospital staff members in Viborg, Ringkjøbing and Arhus county, and to describe the outcome of the disaster medicine-courses given in the region--in theory as well as practice. In the region a questionnaire was sent to the chief doctor and chief nurse for the involved departments, and a personal questionnaire was sent to all the doctors and nurses in the region, who had participated in one or more courses in disaster medicine during the period 1990-1995. Of the total number of doctors at the involved departments, 7% of the residents, 29% of the senior residents and 56% of the consultants had taken a course in disaster medicine, as had 33% of the nurses. Only 15% had taken more than one course, and as few as 2% had had a follow-up course to the primary one given in the region. Forty-one percent had used their acquired knowledge either in theory or practice: 55% for educational purposes, 11% for disaster planning and 12% for buying equipment for the hospital. In general an easier access to follow-up is desired, and there seems to be a need to give more consideration to the priorities of the individual departments concerning the selection of participants to the courses in disaster medicine.