Health workforce readiness for future pandemics: Evidence from undergraduate health sciences students in Georgia.
- 1Public Health and Healthcare Management Department, School of Health Sciences, The University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Abstract
Background
Strengthening health workforce preparedness has become a critical public health priority in the post-COVID-19 era, particularly in countries facing workforce shortages and uneven integration of preparedness competencies. This study evaluated self-perceived pandemic preparedness among final-year biomedical and health sciences students in Georgia and examined the role of undergraduate education in preparing students for future public health emergencies.Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among final-year students from medicine, dentistry, public health, nursing, and pharmacy programs (n = 296), with nursing (n = 6) and pharmacy (n = 1) students underrepresented. An adapted questionnaire assessed self-perceived preparedness, COVID-19 response participation, willingness to engage in future public health emergencies, and educational experiences. Preparedness dimensions were identified using exploratory factor analysis, and statistical analyses included descriptive, inferential, and regression methods.Results
Overall preparedness was moderate (M = 3.50, SD = 1.14). Two preparedness dimensions were identified: theoretical, preventive, communicative, and clinical knowledge and clinical and practical readiness. Practical skills, infection control participation, and emergency response activities showed the strongest associations with overall preparedness (p < 0.001). Despite moderate preparedness, 84.1% of students expressed willingness to contribute to future public health emergencies, rising to 97.5% among those with COVID-19 response experience. Students with COVID-19 response experience demonstrated higher preparedness across domains. Clinical and medical training were identified as the highest priority for curricular reform (43.6%), surpassing preventive, theoretical, and communication-focused measures.Conclusions
A gap exists between students' willingness to contribute during public health emergencies and their self-perceived preparedness. These findings suggest that undergraduate education may play an important role in strengthening preparedness for future public health emergencies. Greater emphasis on experiential learning, simulation-based training, and supervised participation in public health activities may help improve perceived preparedness. Georgia provides a relevant case study for countries facing similar workforce constraints and fragmented integration of preparedness competencies within undergraduate education.
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BibTeX
@article{goderdzishvili2026health,
title = {{Health workforce readiness for future pandemics: Evidence from undergraduate health sciences students in Georgia.}},
author = {Dea Goderdzishvili and Elza Nikoleishvili},
journal = {AIMS public health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.3934/publichealth.2026044},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909295},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Health workforce readiness for future pandemics: Evidence from undergraduate health sciences students in Georgia.
AU - Dea Goderdzishvili
AU - Elza Nikoleishvili
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/06
JO - AIMS public health
DO - 10.3934/publichealth.2026044
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909295
AB - Background Strengthening health workforce preparedness has become a critical public health priority in the post-COVID-19 era, particularly in countries facing workforce shortages and uneven integration of preparedness competencies. This study evaluated self-perceived pandemic preparedness among final-year biomedical and health sciences students in Georgia and examined the role of undergraduate education in preparing students for future public health emergencies.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among final-year students from medicine, dentistry, public health, nursing, and pharmacy programs (n = 296), with nursing (n = 6) and pharmacy (n = 1) students underrepresented. An adapted questionnaire assessed self-perceived preparedness, COVID-19 response participation, willingness to engage in future public health emergencies, and educational experiences. Preparedness dimensions were identified using exploratory factor analysis, and statistical analyses included descriptive, inferential, and regression methods.Results Overall preparedness was moderate (M = 3.50, SD = 1.14). Two preparedness dimensions were identified: theoretical, preventive, communicative, and clinical knowledge and clinical and practical readiness. Practical skills, infection control participation, and emergency response activities showed the strongest associations with overall preparedness (p < 0.001). Despite moderate preparedness, 84.1% of students expressed willingness to contribute to future public health emergencies, rising to 97.5% among those with COVID-19 response experience. Students with COVID-19 response experience demonstrated higher preparedness across domains. Clinical and medical training were identified as the highest priority for curricular reform (43.6%), surpassing preventive, theoretical, and communication-focused measures.Conclusions A gap exists between students' willingness to contribute during public health emergencies and their self-perceived preparedness. These findings suggest that undergraduate education may play an important role in strengthening preparedness for future public health emergencies. Greater emphasis on experiential learning, simulation-based training, and supervised participation in public health activities may help improve perceived preparedness. Georgia provides a relevant case study for countries facing similar workforce constraints and fragmented integration of preparedness competencies within undergraduate education.
SN - 2327-8994
ER -