The Effect of Internal Disaster Management Intervention Program on Nursing Staff Knowledge and Skills

Abstract

Background: Disaster is unforeseeable event that destroys lives and affects people, ruins possessions and disturbs environment. Nursing staff play a vital role in dealing with the victims of such events, so, it is essential for nursing staff to be prepared in facing the consequences of disasters. Aim: Identify the effect of internal disaster management intervention program on nursing staff knowledge and skills. Design: A quasi- experimental design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at Tanta Emergency Hospital, Tanta University. Subject: sample of 35% of total nursing staff (n = 175) were included. Tool: nursing staff knowledge regarding internal disaster management was used included part I: Characteristics data of nursing staff, part II: Nursing staff knowledge regarding internal disaster management, and part III: Nursing staff perceived skills about procedures dealing with internal disaster management. Results: Preprogram, majority of nursing staff had poor knowledge, while post program, more than two-thirds of nursing staff had good level of knowledge with statistical significant improvement on nursing staff levels about internal disaster management pre than post program. As well as, preprogram, more than half of nursing staff had low level of perceived skills, while, post program about two-thirds of nursing staff had high level of perceived skills with statistical significant improvement in nursing staff skills dealing with internal disaster management pre than post program. Conclusion: Nursing staff knowledge and skills was improved after implementation of disaster program. Recommendation: Nursing staff need continuous courses and training for disaster management and incorporate emergency care and disaster management skills into undergraduate curricula.