Al Nsour Mohannad, Khader Yousef, Al Serouri Abdulwahed, Bashier Haitham, Osman Shahd
Global Health Development/Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan.
Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
JMIR Med Educ. 2020 Sep 18;6(1):e19047. doi: 10.2196/19047.
The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) is a 2-year training program in applied epidemiology. FETP graduates have contributed significantly to improvements in surveillance systems, control of infectious diseases, and outbreak investigations in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).
Considering the instrumental roles of FETP graduates during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, this study aimed to assess their awareness and preparedness to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in three EMR countries.
An online survey was sent to FETP graduates in the EMR in March 2020. The FETP graduates were contacted by email and requested to fill out an online survey. Sufficient number of responses were received from only three countries-Jordan, Sudan, and Yemen. A few responses were received from other countries, and therefore, they were excluded from the analysis. The questionnaire comprised a series of questions pertaining to sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of the epidemiology of COVID-19, and preparedness to respond to COVID-19.
This study included a total of 57 FETP graduates (20 from Jordan, 13 from Sudan, and 24 from Yemen). A total of 31 (54%) graduates had attended training on COVID-19, 29 (51%) were members of a rapid response team against COVID-19, and 54 (95%) had previous experience in response to disease outbreaks or health emergencies. The vast majority were aware of the main symptoms, mode of transmission, high-risk groups, and how to use personal protective equipment. A total of 46 (81%) respondents considered themselves well prepared for the COVID-19 outbreak, and 40 (70%) reported that they currently have a role in supporting the country's efforts in the management of COVID-19 outbreak.
The FETP graduates in Jordan, Sudan, and Yemen were fully aware of the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the safety measures required, and they are well positioned to investigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, they should be properly and efficiently utilized by the Ministries of Health to investigate and respond to the current COVID-19 crisis where the needs are vastly growing and access to outside experts is becoming limited.
现场流行病学培训项目（FETP）是一项为期两年的应用流行病学培训项目。FETP毕业生为东地中海区域（EMR）监测系统的改进、传染病控制和疫情调查做出了重大贡献。
鉴于FETP毕业生在冠状病毒病（COVID-19）危机期间发挥的重要作用，本研究旨在评估三个EMR国家的FETP毕业生对COVID-19大流行的认识和应对准备情况。
2020年3月，向EMR的FETP毕业生发送了一份在线调查问卷。通过电子邮件联系FETP毕业生，要求他们填写在线调查问卷。仅从约旦、苏丹和也门这三个国家收到了足够数量的回复。从其他国家收到的回复较少，因此将它们排除在分析之外。问卷包括一系列与社会人口学特征、COVID-19流行病学知识以及应对COVID-19的准备情况相关的问题。
本研究共纳入57名FETP毕业生（20名来自约旦，13名来自苏丹，24名来自也门）。共有31名（54%）毕业生参加了COVID-19培训，29名（51%）是COVID-19快速反应团队的成员，54名（95%）以前有应对疾病暴发或卫生紧急情况的经验。绝大多数人了解主要症状、传播方式、高危人群以及如何使用个人防护装备。共有46名（81%）受访者认为自己对COVID-19疫情有充分准备，40名（70%）报告称他们目前在支持国家应对COVID-19疫情的工作中发挥作用。
约旦、苏丹和也门的FETP毕业生充分了解COVID-19的流行病学情况以及所需的安全措施，他们有能力对COVID-19大流行进行调查和应对。因此，卫生部应妥善、高效地利用他们来调查和应对当前需求大幅增长且外部专家获取受限的COVID-19危机。
