Ready or not? The state of emergency preparedness among Italian Public Health medical residents

Abstract Background Italy frequently experiences major events like earthquakes, floods, and migrant shipwrecks, reflecting global concerns that also include climate change, pandemics, and wars. This study aims to assess the role of public health experts and the current state of Italian post-degree Public Health schools in addressing these challenges. Methods In June 2023, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to all Italian Public Health residents enrolled in the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health (SItI). The survey investigated the availability and frequency of training and updates related to emergencies, measured the interest and perceived importance of these topics among residents, examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their awareness, and identified their primary sources of information in the subject. Results Out of 289 respondents, a significant majority (86.2%) acknowledging the importance of being trained in emergency management and 74.4% expressed interest in topic (p < 0.001). A 90.1% of residents indicated a lack of dedicated courses and 93.1% reported an absence of specialized master’s programs (p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between recognizing the importance of the topic and the desire to attend specialized conferences (p < 0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic had a noticeable impact: 24.6% recognized the importance of the topic pre-pandemic, while 50.9% raised awareness during (p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings highlight a critical gap in the training of public health professionals in Italy, particularly in the domain of emergency preparedness and management. There is a pressing need to establish enhanced, uniform training programs across different public health training networks in Italy. Implementing such programs would ensure a more robust and effective response to future emergencies, thereby safeguarding public health and improving outcomes during crises. Key messages • Significant gap in specialized training and awareness among health professionals. • Urgent need for emergency preparedness training in public health.