Knowledge and awareness levels of health personnel in a university hospital regarding CBRN and disasters

Aims: Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats and natural or man-made disasters are among the serious risks faced by contemporary societies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness of health personnel working in a university hospital on CBRN and disasters and to examine the effectiveness of existing training programs. Methods: This cross-sectional study included doctors, nurses, and other health personnel working in a university hospital. We used a questionnaire as a data collection tool to measure the level of knowledge about CBRN and disasters. Results: The total number of participants was 295. The majority were aged between 26 and 35 years (n=118, 40.0%), and more than half were male (n=163, 55.3%). Most participants were university graduates (n=171, 58.0%), intern doctors (n=91, 30.8%) and nurses (n=70, 23.7%). A significant proportion worked in the emergency department (n=132, 44.7%) and had less than one year of professional experience (n=106, 35.9%). Only 43.7% (n=129) reported being informed about the hospital disaster plan, and just 30.8% (n=91) had received training on CBRN. Awareness and preparedness levels were notably higher among nurses and emergency department personnel. Conclusion: The majority of healthcare personnel lacked adequate knowledge and training regarding CBRN threats and disaster preparedness. Targeted and routine educational interventions are necessary to enhance hospital-based disaster response.