Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia

The use of biological agents as weapons in warfare has been practiced since antiquity and is on the rise recently. In the event of an act of bioterrorism, health care professionals have to be prepared to identify and counter such incidents. They have to recognize and initiate rapid response to act...

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Main Authors:	Bikram Kabir, Durgadas Govind Naik, Venkata Pavan Kumar, Geethanjali Bhas
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Malaysian Society of Applied Biology 2016
Online Access:	http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/1/45_02_10.pdf

id	ukm-11814
recordtype	eprints
spelling	ukm-118142018-07-02T01:24:13Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/ Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia Bikram Kabir, Durgadas Govind Naik, Venkata Pavan Kumar, Geethanjali Bhas, The use of biological agents as weapons in warfare has been practiced since antiquity and is on the rise recently. In the event of an act of bioterrorism, health care professionals have to be prepared to identify and counter such incidents. They have to recognize and initiate rapid response to acts of bioterrorism underlining the importance of awareness and preparedness for bioterrorism. A closed questionnaire based survey, conducted among medical students, to assess their awareness and knowledge on bioterrorism included questions on biosafety, biosecurity, target population, biological agents, role of doctors and hospitals, response and scope. Results were analyzed by using simple statistical applications. Of 132 respondents, 64% were aware of the term bioterrorism. Students were aware of important etiological agents used in bioterrorism; Bacillus anthracis (52%), Ebola virus (58%), Small pox (51%), Vibrio cholerae (41%) and Clostridium botulinum (28%). Majority of students were aware about the importance of identifying illness, and reporting to concerned health officials and 95% respondents opined that, inclusion of bioterrorism in curriculum provides scope for expansion of preparedness. This study indicates a need to include bioterrorism as a topic in curriculum, thereby providing basic knowledge and preparedness to respond to bioterrorism. Malaysian Society of Applied Biology 2016-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/1/45_02_10.pdf Bikram Kabir, and Durgadas Govind Naik, and Venkata Pavan Kumar, and Geethanjali Bhas, (2016) Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia. Malaysian Applied Biology, 45 (2). pp. 63-67. ISSN 0126-8643 http://www.mabjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=565&catid=59:current-view&Itemid=56
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Local University
institution	Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia
building	UKM Institutional Repository
collection	Online Access
language	English
description	The use of biological agents as weapons in warfare has been practiced since antiquity and is on the rise recently. In the event of an act of bioterrorism, health care professionals have to be prepared to identify and counter such incidents. They have to recognize and initiate rapid response to acts of bioterrorism underlining the importance of awareness and preparedness for bioterrorism. A closed questionnaire based survey, conducted among medical students, to assess their awareness and knowledge on bioterrorism included questions on biosafety, biosecurity, target population, biological agents, role of doctors and hospitals, response and scope. Results were analyzed by using simple statistical applications. Of 132 respondents, 64% were aware of the term bioterrorism. Students were aware of important etiological agents used in bioterrorism; Bacillus anthracis (52%), Ebola virus (58%), Small pox (51%), Vibrio cholerae (41%) and Clostridium botulinum (28%). Majority of students were aware about the importance of identifying illness, and reporting to concerned health officials and 95% respondents opined that, inclusion of bioterrorism in curriculum provides scope for expansion of preparedness. This study indicates a need to include bioterrorism as a topic in curriculum, thereby providing basic knowledge and preparedness to respond to bioterrorism.
format	Article
author	Bikram Kabir, Durgadas Govind Naik, Venkata Pavan Kumar, Geethanjali Bhas,
spellingShingle	Bikram Kabir, Durgadas Govind Naik, Venkata Pavan Kumar, Geethanjali Bhas, Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia
author_facet	Bikram Kabir, Durgadas Govind Naik, Venkata Pavan Kumar, Geethanjali Bhas,
author_sort	Bikram Kabir,
title	Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia
title_short	Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia
title_full	Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia
title_fullStr	Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia
title_sort	awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a university in malaysia
publisher	Malaysian Society of Applied Biology
publishDate	2016
url	http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/11814/1/45_02_10.pdf
first_indexed	2023-09-18T20:01:12Z
last_indexed	2023-09-18T20:01:12Z
_version_	1777406860393971712

Awareness and knowledge about bioterrorism among medical students at a University in Malaysia

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