Preparedness of young male physicians for biological terrorism and warfare in South Korea

Introduction: The events of 11th September 2001, and the subsequent anthrax attacks in the United States brought the threat of bioterrorism to the forefront of concern for public health departments. Moreover, the rising confrontation between North and South Korea emphasizes the possibility of aggression with biological weapons and our vulnerability to bioterrorism. While the importance of physicians' interests and management ability is becoming more critical, no studies have yet been undertaken in Korea to assess whether primary care physicians are well informed and capable of managing bioterrorism. This study evaluates the awareness and response of young male physicians to potential bioterrorism in South Korea. Method: A total of 692 young male physicians completed the knowledge and awareness survey during the education period of military service on 9th April 2005. Results: Forty-five percent of the participants responded that the possibility of biological warfare in Korea was high. The level of bioterrorism knowledge, however, was low. Eighty-seven percent acknowledged the necessity of education and training for bioterrorism, and 69.9% were willing to accept education and training in bioterrorism preparedness. Conclusion: These findings suggest that young physicians should receive continuous education and training to improve preparedness for biological terrorism and warfare in South Korea. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2012;19:18-22)