Disaster management: a study on knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency nurse and community health nurse
Background Disasters are unpredictable events that kill and affect people, demolish properties and disrupt environment. During such events, nurses play a vital role in dealing with the victims. It is therefore crucial for nurses to be prepared in facing the aftermath of disasters. The aim of t...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Biomed Central
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/29013/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/29013/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/29013/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/29013/1/Disaster_Management-A_Study_on_Knowledge%2C_Attitude_and_Practice_of_Emergency_Nurse_and_Community_Health_Nurse.pdf |
| Summary: | Background
Disasters are unpredictable events that kill and affect
people, demolish properties and disrupt environment.
During such events, nurses play a vital role in dealing
with the victims. It is therefore crucial for nurses to be
prepared in facing the aftermath of disasters. The aim of
this study was to determine knowledge, attitude and
practice of emergency nurse and community health
nurse towards disaster management.
Materials and methods
This was a cross-sectional study conducted in emergency
departments and health clinics in Selangor, one of the
states in Malaysia. Questionnaire forms eliciting information about knowledge, attitude and practice towards disaster management were randomly distributed to 468 nurses
working at the aforementioned clinics. This survey was
conducted from October to November 2011 and yielded a
response rate of 84.6 per cent.
Results
Both groups of nurses had similar inadequate knowledge
but portrayed positive attitude towards disaster management. They differ in terms of practice whereby 56.1% of
emergency nurses reported having had adequate practice
compared to 30.7% of the community health nurses (chisquared test, P<0.001). Emergency nurses who have been
involved in disaster response are more likely to report
adequate practice (P<0.01, AOR=4.008, 95% CI=1.691-
9.504) while those who attended disaster-related education/training are more likely to have adequate knowledge
(P<0.05, AOR=3.807, 95% CI=1.584-9.153) and practice
(P=0.001, AOR=4.145, 95% CI=1.804- 9.525). Attending
disaster-related education/training is seen to be a predictor to adequate knowledge (P<0.001, AOR=3.511, 95%
CI=2.097-5.881) and practice (P<0.001, AOR=4.080, 95%
CI=2.326-7.156), and portraying positive attitude (p<0.05,
AOR=2.042, 95% CI=1.025-4.069) among community
health nurse. Nurses’ workplace (represent type of nurse)
is identified as a predictor for the adequacy of practice
(P<0.001, AOR=2.345, 95% CI=1.474-3.730).
Conclusions
Adequacy of knowledge and practice, and portraying
positive attitude is driven by being involved in disaster
response and attending disaster-related education. It is
therefore paramount for health administrators to conduct disaster-related education/training for front-liners
such as emergency and community health nurses to
improve their knowledge and practice towards disaster
management. |
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