Health Emergency Response Readiness of Undergraduate Student

P P L Or

doi:10.4236/health.2017.93027

Abstract

The increased threats of terrorism, disease outbreak and natural disasters clearly support the need to incorporate health emergency education into the school curricula to enhance emergency awareness and the development of Emergency Response Management Plans. The purpose of this study was to explore the health emergency response readiness of the undergraduate students upon completion of a “Health Emergency Education” course in Hong Kong. Thirty-three undergraduate students (aged from 19 to 23) enrolled in the course were selected for investigation. A 21-item semi-structured class exercise was administered to the students before and after the course. A significant improvement in the knowledge of emergency signage was observed. There was a strong positive correlation between the participants’ knowledge of performing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and their confidence in giving first aid to friends (r = 0.81, p = 0.00). The participants were more confident in administering first aid to family members and friends than strangers and the findings in this study were consistent with previous studies. The elective course significantly increased the students’ health emergency knowledge and confidence to provide assistance in an emergency situation. It is important to accompany advisories with educational messages to help the public understand emergency risks and enhance response readiness.

Highlights

Emergency is an urgent situation demanding, sometimes, instantaneous decisions and follow-up actions
Health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat to a health condition, which may be caused by bioterrorism or epidemic infectious diseases that pose a substantial risk to a significant number of people or cause long-term disability [1]
The context of the present study is to evaluate the health emergency response readiness of undergraduate students who had completed the elective course on health emergency education which focused on developing responses and health literacy towards health emergencies

Summary

Introduction

Emergency is an urgent situation demanding, sometimes, instantaneous decisions and follow-up actions. It is usually confined in time and space. Health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat to a health condition, which may be caused by bioterrorism or epidemic infectious diseases that pose a substantial risk to a significant number of people or cause long-term disability [1]

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion