Evaluation Of Disaster Preparedness Perceptions Of Prehospital Emergency Health Workers: Kayseri Case

Year 2024, , 49 - 57, 30.09.2024

Fatih Denizli , Zühal Kınış

https://doi.org/10.58208/cphs.1480943

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the disaster preparedness perceptions of prehospital emergency healthcare workers and to ascertain whether these perceptions vary according to their demographic characteristics.
Materials and methods: A total of 246 prehospital emergency healthcare workers participated in the study, which was conducted in Kayseri Province. The "HASPAHA Scale," consisting of 28 statements, was utilized in the research. SPSS 22 package program was used in the analysis of the data obtained by the survey technique, and descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, t-test and ANOVA analysis were used to analyse the data.
Results: In this study, there were significant differences in the overall disaster preparedness perceptions of prehospital emergency healthcare workers based on gender and educational status, while no significant differences were observed based on age group, title, or length of service. The desirability sub dimension of disaster preparedness perception varied according to educational status, while the significance sub dimension differed based on gender, age group, and educational status. Additionally, the self-efficacy and intervention skills sub dimensions exhibited significant differences based on gender and educational status, and the benefit sub dimension showed significant differences based on gender, age group, title, and educational status. Furthermore, it was determined that the disaster preparedness perceptions of prehospital emergency healthcare workers did not vary based on their experiences of encountering disasters or their involvement in disaster response situations.
Conclusion: The research findings indicate that prehospital emergency healthcare workers' perceptions of disaster preparedness are significantly above average and vary according to certain demographic characteristics. Due to the insufficient literature on the subject, this study contributes to the relevant literature and serves as a reference for practitioners in disaster preparedness and planning processes, providing valuable insights for their utilization.

Keywords

Disaster medicine, Disaster preparedness, Prehospital emergency, Healthcare workers

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