Optimal strategies for prevention and preparation of medical personnel for emergency response to an active shooter attack in a healthcare facility - scoping review.

Goal: To seek and describe current scientific knowledge on the preparedness of medical personnel for an active shooter attack, with the identification of an optimal preparation strategy concerning prevention and potential management of this emergency on the premises of a medical facility. Methods: A scoping study with five phases of methodological steps was applied on the basis of the identified research question. According to the PCC (population, concept, context) format, the research question was divided into individual keywords in selected languages used for the search. Primary studies published between 2000 and December 2023 were included in the selection process. The sources were searched in December 2023 and freely available. Licensed databases EBSCOhost, Cinahl Plus with Full text, Medline, Medline Complete, and Google were used to find relevant studies. We used the "find similar articles" function in many databases. Selected English language keywords were searched using Boolean operators and placeholders. Results: The final analysis included nine studies. As precautions, the authors recommended the development of guidelines and establishment of a system, not only at the national level, but also within individual facilities interconnected with the police, regular training of employees with practical simulation, orientation signs in buildings, communication links for quick information and, last but not least, knowledge of warning behaviour. Conclusion: Healthcare providers should be systematically prepared for an active shooter emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]