Emergency nurse disaster preparedness during mass gatherings: a cross-sectional survey of emergency nurses' perceptions in hospitals in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

To assess hospital emergency nurses' self-reported knowledge, role awareness and skills in disaster response with respect to the Hajj mass gathering in Mecca. Cross-sectional online survey with primary data collection and non-probabilistic purposive sample conducted in late 2014. All 4 public hospitals in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 106 registered nurses in hospital emergency departments. Awareness, knowledge, skills and perceptions of emergency nurses in Mecca with regard to mass gathering disaster preparedness. Although emergency nurses' clinical role awareness in disaster response was reported to be high, nurses reported limited knowledge and awareness of the wider emergency and disaster preparedness plans, including key elements of their hospital strategies for managing a mass gathering disaster. Over half of the emergency nurses in Mecca's public hospitals had not thoroughly read the plan, and almost 1 in 10 were not even aware of its existence. Emergency nurses reported seeing their main role as providing timely general clinical assessment and care; however, fewer emergency nurses saw their role as providing surveillance, prevention, leadership or psychological care in a mass gathering disaster, despite all these broader roles being described in the hospitals' emergency disaster response plans. Emergency nurses' responses to topics where there are often misconceptions on appropriate disaster management indicated a significant knowledge deficit with only 1 in 3 nurses at best or 1 in 6 at worst giving correct answers. Respondents identified 3 key training initiatives as opportunities to further develop their professional skills in this area: (1) hospital education sessions, (2) the Emergency Management Saudi Course, (3) bespoke short courses in disaster management. Recommendations are suggested to help enhance clinical and educational efforts in disaster preparedness.

Alzahrani F ，Kyratsis Y 《BMJ Open》

Evaluation of Hospitals' Disaster Preparedness Plans in the Holy City of Makkah (Mecca): A Cross-Sectional Observation Study.

Al-Shareef AS ，Alsulimani LK ，Bojan HM ，Masri TM ，Grimes JO ，Molloy MS ，Ciottone GR ... -  《-》

Perceptions of knowledge of disaster management among military and civilian nurses in Saudi Arabia.

It is generally accepted that nurses have insufficient knowledge about disaster preparedness due to a lack of acceptance of core competencies and the absence of disaster preparedness in nursing curricula. This study explored nurses' knowledge and sources of knowledge, and skills as they relate to disaster management in Saudi Arabia, where more than 4660 people have died, 32,000 people have been affected, and US$4.65 billion in damage has been caused by disaster since 1980. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive research design. Nurses in Saudi Arabia have moderate knowledge concerning disaster preparedness. However, nurses in military hospitals possess more knowledge than those who work in government hospitals. The majority of nurses gained their knowledge and skills from disaster drills. Nurses need more education in all areas of disaster management, most importantly in their roles during response to disasters. Nurses perceive themselves as not well-prepared but they are willing to improve their skills in disaster preparedness if educational opportunities are provided.

Al Thobaity A ，Plummer V ，Innes K ，Copnell B ... -  《-》

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of emergency department staff towards disaster and emergency preparedness at tertiary health care hospital in central Saudi Arabia.

Nofal A ，Alfayyad I ，Khan A ，Al Aseri Z ，Abu-Shaheen A ... -  《-》

Disaster education and preparedness in the acute care setting: A cross sectional survey of operating theatre nurse's disaster knowledge and education.

Operating theatre services can be heavily relied upon during mass casualty disaster events, which require nurses to have adequate training and education of hospital disaster management plans to respond appropriately. The evidence-base of disaster preparedness in the acute setting is limited, particularly with regard to operating theatre nurses. Explore operating theatre nurse's disaster knowledge of their role in a mass casualty event, and identify the preferred mode of disaster education and training to improve disaster preparedness. A cross-sectional research design was employed with data collected using a survey tool. The research was undertaken on operating theatre nurses in a tertiary hospital in Victoria, Australia. The participants in this research included 53 operating theatre nurses, 51 Registered Nurses and 2 Enrolled Nurses. The survey was based on a disaster questionnaire for emergency department nurses from South Australia, exploring knowledge and preparedness for disaster response in the acute setting, and altered to be specific and relevant to the operating theatre environment and broadened to focus on the training needs of perioperative nurses. The survey of 53 operating theatre nurses identified that few had previous disaster experience (19.9%). The majority of respondents were aware of their disaster management policy (Code Brown policy) (94.1%), of reporting lines, and appropriate triage (80.4%). However, a significant number of nurses (50.9%) stated that in the event of a disaster they would "call work to see if [they needed] additional assistance" compared with 43.4% of respondents "wait to be contacted by a manager/floor coordinator" as was policy. Finally, disaster nursing general knowledge amongst staff was poor; a mean of 1.79 (SD = 1.20) correct answers out of a possible 7. This study highlights that disaster education and training methods for disasters be specific to the role required by nurses and all staff during a disaster activation; training drills are preferred although face-to-face education is practical.

Sonneborn O ，Miller C ，Head L ，Cross R ... -  《-》