Nurses' and Medical Officers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Preparedness Toward Potential Bioterrorism Attacks.

Terrorist attacks are increasingly becoming more lethal and less discriminate. The threat of bioterrorism is increasing daily. The ease of production and the broad availability of biological agents and technical know-how have led to a further spread of biological weapons and an increased desire among nations as well as terrorists to have them. Health professionals in emergency departments are expected to play crucial roles in the management of victims of bioterrorism when bioterrorism occurs. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and medical officers (MOs) toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. This qualitative study utilized focus group discussions and semistructured interviews to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and MOs toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. Data were subjected to a qualitative content analysis in which three main thematic categories were developed. These thematic categories are as follows: (a) differences in bioterrorism knowledge between emergency department nurses and emergency department MOs, (b) unprepared emergency department nurses and MOs for care during bioterrorism attacks, and (c) positive attitudes of emergency department nurses and MOs toward bioterrorism preparedness. Although emergency MOs had better knowledge of bioterrorism than their nursing counterparts, both groups of health professionals were unprepared to respond to any form of bioterrorism. Both nurses and MOs indicated the need for staff education and infrastructure readiness to be able to respond effectively to a bioterrorist attack. A well-prepared emergency department and health professionals against bioterrorism could prevent high casualty rates in a bioterrorist attack and also serve a dual purpose of dealing with other natural disasters when they occur.

Patient Participation in Nursing Care: Views From Ghanaian Nurses, Nursing Students, and Patients.

Previous studies on patient participation reported inconclusive benefits of patient participation in health care. Consequently, the World Health Organization is actively highlighting the need for the participation of patients and their families in their care. The aim of this study was to explore the views of nurses, nursing students, and patients on patient participation in Ghanaian hospitals. Sixty-five participants made up of 15 patients, 25 registered general nurses, and 25 undergraduate nursing students were involved in the study. Data collection was done through interviews and focus group discussions. Content analysis was utilized in analyzing the data to generate four main categories. These categories were as follows: (a) meaning of patient participation in Ghana, (b) patient participation encouraged more during discharge education, (c) patient participation in nursing care higher in private and smaller hospitals, and (d) perceived facilitators and inhibitors of patient participation in nursing care. Participants in this study indicated that patient participation in nursing care meant involvement of patient in treatment decisions and nursing care procedures. Participants agreed that patient participation in nursing care was mostly encouraged during discharge education. Participation was perceived to be higher in private and smaller hospitals. Wealth and higher education were perceived as facilitators of patient participation while workload and high patient acuity were perceived as inhibitors.