Bioterrorism Preparedness Survey of Hawaii Mental Health Professionals

The purpose of this study is to assess the objective knowledge of mental health professionals in Hawaii related to evidence-based early psychological interventions for victims of mass trauma as well as their perceived response readiness to a bioterrorism associated event. During June and July 2004 an anonymous survey was mailed as many as three times to a random sample of licensed psychologists and social workers residing in Hawaii (n = 273). The response rate for deliverable surveys was 68 percent (176 of 257). Only 10 percent of respondents reported prior bioterrorism preparedness training. Less than 50 percent felt able to identify and manage populations exhibiting the normal range of stress reactions to a bioterrorist event, and only 19 percent felt able to distinguish psychological illness from the organic sequelae of a bioterrorist event. However, 75 percent expressed willingness to provide assistance in the state's bioterrorism response and control efforts. Respondents who were retired or inactive scored significantly lower than their actively employed peers on the objective knowledge questions. These finding indicate that more attention needs to be focused on bioterrorism preparedness training of mental health professionals to improve their ability to respond effectively.