The Assessment of Nursing Educators' Disaster Preparedness Beliefs

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the disaster preparedness beliefs of nursing educators. Methods: The study was conducted as descriptive research between June and December 2020 with 346 nursing educators working in the Nursing departments state universities in Turkey. Data were collected through a descriptive information form consisting of questions about sociodemographic characteristics and disasters and the General Disaster Preparedness Belief (GDPB) scale. Results: The mean score obtained from the total GDPB scale was 176.74+-16.25. While there was a statistically significant difference between the mean GDPB scale total score and basic knowledge about disaster preparedness and response, disaster experience, reading the disaster plan of the surrounding area, and need for education about disasters (p<0.05), there was no statistically significant difference between the mean scale score and gender, academic field, having given care for victims, the presence of a disaster plan in the environment, and participation in a disaster exercise before (p>0.05). According to the results of the regression analysis, total work experience as a nursing educator for 10 years or more, having basic knowledge about disaster preparedness and response, having a real disaster experience, reading the disaster plan of the surrounding area, and thinking that there is no need for education about disasters predicted the GDPB positively and significantly. Conclusion: Although the mean scores of nursing educators from the disaster preparedness beliefs were above the average, they needed education about getting information on disaster plans and reading them, participating in disaster exercises, and disasters.

Keywords

• nursing educator
• disaster
• disaster preparedness
• preparedness belief