Evaluation of Disaster Medicine Preparedness among Healthcare Profession Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Disasters are devastating incidents, especially when occurring suddenly and causing damage, great loss of life, or suffering. Disasters can affect health and the social and economic development of a nation. The article analyzes the knowledge (K), attitude (A), and readiness to practice (rP) of healthcare professional students in universities in Pakistan. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study using a pretested and validated self-administered disaster medicine and preparedness questionnaire. The study recruited 310 students. Responses were scored and categorized as high (75th quartile), moderate (75-25th quartiles), and low (25th quartile). Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were performed at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: The study found that most of the students had moderate knowledge, attitude, readiness to practice, and total KArP scores. All K, A, and rP scores were significantly correlated with overall KArP scores. Knowledge and attitude factors were significant predictors of readiness to practice. Conclusions: We strongly believe that educators and health policymakers should build a strong curriculum in disaster medicine management and preparedness to prepare competent future healthcare professionals for the nation.

COVID-19 responses among university students of Bangladesh: Assessment of status and individual view toward COVID-19

“…A self-reported rapid online-based survey was selected because of ongoing lockdown in the country and it was easily reachable to the university students (Tanner & Doberstein, 2015). Many relevant research have already been employed self-reported survey successfully (Basolo et al, 2009;Bourque et al, 2012;Gillani et al, 2020;Nguyen et al, 2006). Concentrating on the country's COVID-19 worst affected capital city, area was divided into two categories; Dhaka and outside Dhaka.…”

“…This study has attempted to measure the knowledge level, attitude, and practices among university students of Bangladesh. Prior to this study, knowledge, attitude, and practices have successfully been used in many research to estimate the preparedness and response level of students (Basir et al, 2020;Chen et al, 2015;Gillani et al, 2020;Hayat et al, 2020;Zhong et al, 2020). Cross sectional study was conducted to identify the vulnerable group toward COVID-19.…”

Assessing the psychological condition among general people of Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic

“…This cross-sectional study followed self-reported rapid online-based survey method due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. Many relevant researches have already been applied to self-reported surveys successfully (Basolo et al, 2009;Bourque et al, 2012;Gillani et al, 2020;Nguyen et al, 2006;Rahman et al, 2020;Tan et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2020). This study considered the worst COVID-19 affected capital city Dhaka as the county's epicenter for the pandemic.…”

Differences in the Disaster-Preparedness Behaviors of the General Public and Professionals: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China

“…At the same time, many studies believe that the residents’ preparedness for avoiding disasters is simply material preparation, which is measured from the perspective of residents’ material preparation. Among them, the most common way to measure disaster preparedness is to ask residents whether they have prepared emergency disaster kits (flashlights, radios, clean water) (e.g., [ 35 , 36 , 45 , 46 ]), buy insurance (e.g., [ 24 , 25 ]), if they had an escape plan (e.g., [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 47 , 48 ]) and reinforce houses (e.g., [ 38 , 49 ]). In addition, some scholars have noted that in addition to material preparation, residents’ disaster preparedness, conscious disaster risk management behavior is also an effective means to deal with disaster impact (e.g., [ 21 ]).…”

“…Based on the above analysis of introduction, referring to the disaster risk management literature, this study measures disaster-preparedness behavior in three dimensions: (1) emergency-disaster preparedness, (2) knowledge and skills preparedness and (3) physical disaster-prevention preparedness ( Table 1 ). Among them, the selection of emergency-disaster preparedness dimension measurement indicators is based on references [ 35 , 36 , 45 , 46 ], the selection of knowledge and skills preparedness dimension measurement indicators is based on references [ 24 , 25 , 38 , 49 ] and the selection of knowledge and skills preparedness dimension measurement indicators is based on references [ 21 , 24 ].…”