A Hospital-based Tabletop Exercise for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Design and Evaluation

Hee Yun Seol; Ji Ryang Kim; Jung Ha Mok; Bo Ran Kwon; Sun-Hee Lee; Im Soo Kwak; Jin Woo Jung; Jeong-su Kim; Ock Bae Ko; En Hi Cho; Seong Sun Kim; Sang Sook Shin; Sang Won Lee

doi:10.3947/ic.2008.40.2.83

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Seol, Kim, Mok, Kwon, Lee, Kwak, Jung, Kim, Ko, Cho, Kim, Shin, and Lee: A Hospital-based Tabletop Exercise for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Design and Evaluation

Original Article

Infection and Chemotherapy

Infection and Chemotherapy 2008; 40(2): 83-92.

Published online: 20 April 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2008.40.2.83

A Hospital-based Tabletop Exercise for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Design and Evaluation

Hee Yun Seol, M.D.¹, Ji Ryang Kim, M.D.¹, Jung Ha Mok, M.D.¹, Bo Ran Kwon, M.D.¹, Sun-Hee Lee, M.D.¹, Im Soo Kwak, M.D.¹, Jin Woo Jung, M.D.², Jeong-su Kim³, Ock Bae Ko³, En Hi Cho³, Seong Sun Kim⁴, Sang Sook Shin⁴, Sang Won Lee, M.D.⁵

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Korea.

²Department of Emergency Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Korea.

³Public Health and Sanitation, Welfare and Health Bureau, Busan Metopolitan City, Korea.

⁴Public Health Crisis Response Team, Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea.

⁵Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Korea.

Correspondence: Sun-Hee Lee, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 1-10 Ami-dong, Seo-gu, Busan 602-739, Korea. Tel: +82-51-240-7673, Fax: +82-51-241-7580, mdssampak@yahoo.co.kr

Received 30 November 2007 Accepted 20 March 2008

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the usefulness and compliance of a hospital-based tabletop exercise in setting of pandemic influenza in hospitals.

Materials and Methods

Tabletop exercise was held in Pusan National University Hospital and forty two hospital employees were invited to participate in the exercise. The scenario for hospital-based tabletop exercise was designed. It consisted of three modules, which simulated the influx and outbreak of H5N1 influenza that was epidemic in Southeast Asia. Pre-, post-exercise surveys were completed by anonymous questions.

Results

Thirty-seven (88%) of 42 invited participants attended exercise. All members of the administration group and the ancillary services group participated. But, only 77% members of the clinical services group participated. In pre-exercise survey, priorities of eight goals regarding skills and knowledge during exercise were inquired., The highest priorities pointed out by the respondents were "Increase the knowledge of pandemic influenza" (22%), "Development of strategies for optimal communication among employees within specific department" (19%) and "Development of strategies for improved coordination between facilities within the health system" (19%). Twenty-one (57%) of participants completed the post-exercise surveys. At post-exercise surveys, 81% of the participants stated that the tabletop exercise was extremely or very useful, 86% of the participants also stated that it increased their knowledge of pandemic influenza.

Conclusion

Tabletop exercise is an effective modality for increasing pandemic influenza preparedness in hospitals, and this method is useful for guiding preparedness activities within the hospital environment. Further studies to determine the appropriate method of discussion, questionnaire, duration of exercise and injection are needed.

Keywords: Hospital-based Tabletop Exercise, Pandemic Influenza

Figures and Tables

Table 1

List of Invitees

Table 2

Summary of Group Responses to the Two Modules of Pandemic Influenza Scenario

Notes

This study was supported by a grant from Korea Center for Diseases Control & Prevention Science Reserch Services Fund.

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