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Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)

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Submitted
August 23, 2025
Published
November 4, 2025

Copyright (c) 2025 Abeer Gharsan Saeed Alzahrani, Sara Ahmed Hashem Alqarni, Rawan Abdullah Saeed Alshehri, Ihdaa Abdulrhman Abdullah Aborreesh, Fahd Mohammed Eid Alian Al Subhi, Nesreen Awad Abdullah Almalki, Asma Hamed Al-Subhi, Elaf Mousa Naji Alsubhi, habib salem mohsen alhuzali

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Evaluation of Nurse Education on Biosecurity and Health Emergency Preparedness: A Comprehensive Review

https://doi.org/10.64483/20252215
Abeer Gharsan Saeed Alzahrani
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Hospital in Jeddah, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Sara Ahmed Hashem Alqarni
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Primary Health Care Center in Bahrah, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Rawan Abdullah Saeed Alshehri
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Primary Health Care Center in Bahrah, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Ihdaa Abdulrhman Abdullah Aborreesh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Primary Health Center in Bahrah, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Fahd Mohammed Eid Alian Al Subhi
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Primary Health Care Center in Bahrah, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Nesreen Awad Abdullah Almalki
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Primary Health Care Center in Bahrah, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Asma Hamed Al-Subhi
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hadda PHC, Health Assistant- Health Care Security, Saudi Arabia
Elaf Mousa Naji Alsubhi
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hada Health Center, Saudi Arabia
habib salem mohsen alhuzali
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hada Health Center, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : Abeer Gharsan Saeed Alzahrani

mm123456472@gmail.com

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025)

Abstract

Background: Nurses play a crucial role in health emergencies, such as pandemics, bioterrorism, and natural disasters, but many gaps exist in the biosecurity and emergency preparedness training for nurses around the world - especially for vulnerable communities in low-resourced settings. Aim: This integrative review evaluates the efficacy of nurse education on biosecurity and health emergency preparedness, examining their nature in nurse education, what they measure, what they assess, what issues exist, and how the findings can be used to make evidence-based, relevant changes. Methods: 27 studies from 2015-2025 were synthesized from PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE with a focus on education modalities, competency domains, and evaluation. Data were analyzed thematically and descriptively using descriptive and inferential statistics, and quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Simulation-based education improved knowledge (10% to 30% improvement), skills (p=0.027), and confidence (70% reported a higher perceived preparedness). Simulation training was a better educational modality than a lecture. Low baseline levels of knowledge were noted (78% with no familiarity with any protocols), which were particularly low for bioterrorism-specific education (15% described potential agents correctly pre-education). The DPET and EPIQ measures were both valid and reliable measures of competencies but did not measure the competence specific to bioterrorism. The missing themes in the findings included an absence of exposure to training, standardization for standards of practice, or competency, with no discussion of mental readiness for emergencies that require equivalent faculty support. Conclusion: Simulation-based education and standardization improve nurse preparedness and readiness, although education relating to bioterrorism scenarios and equipping mental health capacity for nurses is essential prior to a public health emergency. 

Keywords

Biosecurity, nurse training, simulation-based training, health emergency preparedness, bioterrorism
Alzahrani, A. G. S., Alqarni, S. A. H., Alshehri, R. A. S., Aborreesh, I. A. A., Al Subhi, F. M. E. A., Almalki, N. A. A., … alhuzali, habib salem mohsen. (2025). Evaluation of Nurse Education on Biosecurity and Health Emergency Preparedness: A Comprehensive Review. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 2(2), 198–211. https://doi.org/10.64483/20252215 (Original work published September 3, 2025)
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