KUMJ | VOL. 22 | NO. 3 | ISSUE 87 | JULY-SEPTEMBER 2024
Current Understanding of Emergency Medicine and Knowledge, Practice, and Attitude toward Disaster Preparedness and Management among Healthcare Workers in Nepal
Shakya YR, Shrestha R, Shakya Shrestha S, Dangal R, Pandya J, Pradhan B, Shrestha R, Basnet S
Abstract: Background
Disasters are serious disruptions to a community’s functioning that exceed its
capacity to cope using its resources. Natural, man-made, technological hazards
and other factors may cause disasters and influence a community’s exposure and
vulnerability.
Objective
To assess the knowledge, practice, and attitude of healthcare workers in Nepal
regarding disaster preparedness and management for emergencies.
Method
A retrospective study was conducted among healthcare workers in Nepal registered
for the 1
st
World Academic Council of Emergency Medicine- Table-top Exercise
and Communication in Disaster Medicine conference as participants or faculty.
Information was collected using total enumeration sampling and a questionnaire
developed from a literature review and the questionnaire was adapted from the
Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire (EPIQ). Percentages, means,
and medians were calculated for socio-demographic data, knowledge, practices, and
attitudes toward emergency preparedness. A chi-square test assessed associations
between socio-demographic characteristics, emergency procedures, and familiarity
scores on the preparedness questionnaire.
Result
A total of 118 participants took part in the study, most with over six months of
emergency department experience. There was a significant association between
work experience and emergency procedure status ((ꭓ
2
=6.982, p=0.008), and between
education level and familiarity with disaster management (ꭓ
2
Basnet S
=5.507, p=0.019).
However, there was a low correlation (r=0.140, p=0.129) between emergency
procedure status and disaster management familiarity.
Conclusion
Emergency preparedness is crucial for life-saving in disasters. The availability of
emergency services and skills related to emergency preparedness and disaster
management are crucial for saving lives in emergency conditions. The hospital
should provide emergency preparedness and disaster management training to all
healthcare workers. In addition, the hospital authority should perform disaster
exercises/tabletop simulation exercises or drills periodically.
Keyword : Attitude, Disaster management, Emergency preparedness, Knowledge
