Blueprints for resilience: Middle East/North Africa countries' disaster risk reduction education through experts' eyes

Abstract

Abstract Background: All the existing frameworks of Health-Emergency Disaster Risk Management have put great emphasis on the use of educational strategies to be used as a mean of disaster risk reduction (DRR). Thus, this study was conducted to formulate experts' consensus on DRR educational strategies for Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries. Methods: A Delphi study on expert's opinion for DRR educational strategies was carried out through surveys in two consecutive rounds through convenient sampling technique. Results: A total of 60 responses were included in this study. Most of the participants were Saudi nationals, physicians (36.7% vs. 33.3% in round 1 and round 2, respectively), and males (73.3%) with experience in disaster management (56.7%) of 5-10 years (60% vs. 53.3% in round 1 and round 2, respectively). Around 80% participants suggested that graduate health professional education should be through problem based learning (PBL) approach (36.7%) (P-value = 0.007). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework implementation required provision of multiple means of engagement as priority (P-value = 0.007). Best learning situation category was institution based (60%) with best approach for DRR learning as planned scheduled learning (P-value = 0.000). It was found that best learning situations were lectures and small group sessions (73.3% each) (P-value = 0.165) that were delivered through learning management system (90%) (P-value = 0.103), while the major stakeholders that should be involved in national DRR educational planning were Ministry of Health (90%) (P-value = 0.881). Conclusion: Experts have consensus opinion on DRR Educational strategies in MENA countries. [SJEMed 2024; 5(2.000): 064-072]

Keywords

• opinion
• mena countries
• disaster risk reduction
• education
• strategies
• experts