Disaster-related Knowledge Research Articles

The Role of Disaster Memorial Facilities in Disaster Risk Reduction: Experiences from the Tohoku Region in Japan

Disaster memorials have emerged as pivotal approaches for not only commemorating disasters but also imparting lessons to future generations. However, despite discussions on preservation, little involvement has been reflected in the impacts of different memorial patterns in disaster risk reduction (DRR). This study examines the roles of disaster-related memorial facilities in DRR, exploring how distinct memorial patterns transfer disaster experiences to future generations. This research is based on a quantitative strategy, applying an online questionnaire with 538 respondents who visited the three selected sites under the background of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET) to identify their triggers and purpose for visiting, the impact of facilities on raising disaster awareness, the practical contents, and the important roles of DRR. The findings reveal that while all three facilities contribute to DRR with the same most important role as disseminating the lessons of the GEJET, their impact on visitors’ disaster awareness varies. Sendai Arahama Elementary School particularly raises awareness of disaster threats, while the Higashi-Matsushima Memorial Museums and the 3.11 Memorial Community Center enhance visitors’ disaster-related knowledge. Visually stimulating exhibits in the facilities, such as remains, photos, and videos, underscore the importance of disaster preparedness, while panels and science exhibits offer comprehensive insights into disaster-related knowledge. However, none of the three sites have significant roles in deepening regional exchange.

Factors influencing disaster response self-efficacy among registered nurses in Bangladesh

BackgroundNurses are the most prominent healthcare professional group that receives disaster victims and provides regular healthcare support to them at the forefront of disasters and emergencies. As a result, assessing their disaster response self-efficacy (DRSE) level is critical. ObjectivesThis quantitative study assessed the level of registered nurses' disaster response self-efficacy in Bangladesh and determined the factors influencing DRSE. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, five hundred sixty registered nurses' data were collected from 12 public and private hospitals in four districts of Bangladesh between August and September of 2023. The data was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire that included the modified Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale. To analyze the data, we utilized IBM SPSS 26 and Jamovi 2.3.21. ResultsThe study found a high level of disaster response self-efficacy (M = 3.96, SD = 0.58) among the registered nurses, while their disaster knowledge, skill, and preparedness levels were moderate. Low to moderate correlations were found between self-efficacy in disaster response and disaster-related knowledge (r = 0.349, p < 0.001), disaster skills (r = 0.526, p ˂0.001), and preparedness for disaster (r = 0.589, p ˂0.001) of the registered nurses. Older age, higher nursing designation, working experience in the emergency unit, and higher levels of disaster knowledge significantly influenced registered nurses' self-efficacy while responding to disasters. ConclusionRegistered nurses in Bangladesh have reported high self-efficacy while responding to disasters. However, to enhance their effectiveness, they need to improve their disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness. To better respond during disasters, it is advisable that nurses receive training in disaster triage, post-disaster mental and psychological health, as well as primary and advanced life support.

Midwifery Experiences During Two Major Earthquakes in Türkiye: Challenges and Lessons Learned - A Qualitative Study.

This study aims to identify midwives' post-earthquake caregiving experiences. A phenomenological study was undertaken in May-June 2023. The participants of the study consisted of 15midwives who were included in the study with the purposeful sampling method and volunteered to provide care during the earthquake. Data were collected by an in-depth interview method using a demographic information form and a semi-structured interview form. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts. The research identified 2main themes: difficulties in managing midwifery care and the psychological impact of the earthquake on midwives. Challenges included issues with disaster organization, management, and coordination; communication gaps; insufficient medical supplies; harsh environmental conditions; inability to fulfill basic needs; lack of disaster-related knowledge and experience among midwives; and the overall survival conditions of disaster victims. The disaster caused several psychological effects on midwives, including shock, surprise, sadness, confusion, feelings of inadequacy, insomnia upon returning from the disaster area, nightmares, difficulty adapting, guilt about returning, feelings of helplessness, and experiences of loss and mourning. This study detailed midwives' experiences during disasters, difficulties, and barriers to effective care. It is crucial to record midwives' experiences during disasters and use this information and solutions to prepare for future disasters. Disaster preparedness training for midwives should be planned to increase physical and emotional resilience.

Disaster Education for Young Children: A Systematic Review and Thematic Analysis

The aim of this systematic review is to search for, gather, and synthesize studies on disaster education for children in the early childhood period. Studies that implemented and evaluated the results of a disaster education program for children aged 3 to 6 years old were examined. For the purpose of this study, the focus was on disasters caused by nature induced hazards (earthquake, wildfire, tsunami, flood, volcano eruption, storm, avalanche, tornado, landslide, hurricane, blizzard). A large number of diverse databases such as Emerald, ERIC, JSTOR, ProQuest, SAGE Journals Online, Science Direct, Scopus, SpringerLink, Taylor &amp;amp; Francis Online Journals, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library were searched using a wide range of keywords, resulting in the identification of seven studies from peer-reviewed journals. These studies were examined through thematic analysis. The results highlight the different strategies and materials that researchers utilized for teaching young children about disasters, as well as the various evaluation methods used to assess young children's disaster-related knowledge. Furthermore, it was found that across all examined studies, there was a positive impact of disaster education on children’s disaster related knowledge. It is hoped that this review will shed light on an underrated yet crucial research area, attracting more attention and providing a starting point for rapid improvement

Construction and application of a multilevel geohazard domain ontology: A case study of landslide geohazards

The occurrence of geohazards entails sudden, unpredictable, and cascading effects, with numerous conceptual frameworks and intricate spatiotemporal relationships existing between hazard events. Presently, the absence of a unified mechanism for describing and expressing geohazard knowledge poses substantial challenges in terms of sharing and reusing domain-specific knowledge pertaining to geohazards. Therefore, it is imperative to address the issue of constructing a cohesive descriptive model that facilitates the sharing and reuse of geohazard knowledge. In this study, we propose a multilayered ontology construction method tailored specifically for the domain of landslide geological hazards. By comparing existing methods, we establish a hierarchical structure and expression framework for the geological hazard ontology. Notably, our approach seamlessly integrates the conceptual and semantic layers in the relationship description at each level, enabling association representation of hazard data across multiple tiers. We define essential concepts and attributes related to landslide geological hazards, along with their respective interrelationships. To achieve effective knowledge sharing and reuse, we model the ontology of the landslide geological disaster domain using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). This modeling approach serves as a powerful tool that facilitates the sharing and reuse of disaster-related knowledge. Finally, we verify the method's validity and reliability by employing illustrative case studies. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach imposes an affordable workload on human resources. Additionally, the foundational domain ontology significantly enhances information retrieval performance, thereby yielding satisfactory outcomes.

Comparison of Disaster Medicine Education in Emergency Medicine Residency and Emergency Medical Services Fellowship in the United States.

Disaster Medicine (DM) is defined by Koenig and Shultz as the "disciplines and organizations involved with governmental public health, public and private medical delivery including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and governmental emergency management." The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) sets curriculum requirements and standards for Emergency Medicine (EM) residencies and EMS fellowships, which include a limited portion of the DM curriculum topics recommended by the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). The ACGME does not currently approve DM fellowships, as DM is not recognized as a subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). This lack of nationally standardized guidelines for DM training leads to variability in disaster-related knowledge and skills, even among physicians trained by ACGME-accredited programs. The objective of this study is to analyze the DM components covered in EM residency and EMS fellowship in the United States and compare those to SAEM DM fellowship curriculum guidelines. The DM curriculum components of EM residencies and EMS fellowships were evaluated, using the SAEM DM curriculum as a control. Overlapping topics, as well as gaps between the programs, were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the DM curriculum components developed by SAEM, EMS fellowship covered 15 of 19 (79%) major curriculum components and 38 of 99 (38%) subtopics, while EM residency covered seven of 19 major curriculum components (37%) and 16 of 99 (16%) subtopics. Together, EM residency and EMS fellowship cover 16 of 19 (84%) major curriculum components and 40 of 99 (40%) subtopics. While EMS fellowship covers a large portion of the DM major curriculum components recommended by SAEM, there are several important DM subtopics that are not covered either in EM residency or EMS fellowship. Furthermore, there is no standardization for the depth and manner that DM topics are addressed in either curriculum. Time constraints in EM residency and EMS fellowship may also prevent extensive review of important DM topics. Disaster Medicine covers a distinct body of knowledge, represented in the curriculum subtopics, that are not covered in either EM residency or EMS fellowship. The development of an ACGME-accredited DM fellowship and recognition of DM as a distinct subspecialty could allow for more effective DM graduate medical education.

Factors Impacting the Behavioral Intention to Use Social Media for Knowledge Sharing: Insights from Disaster Relief Practitioners

Aim/Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that impact the behavioral intention to use social media (SM) for knowledge sharing (KS) in the disaster relief (DR) context. Background: With the continuing growth of SM for KS in the DR environment, disaster relief organizations across the globe have started to realize its importance in streamlining their processes in the post-implementation phase. However, SM-based KS depends on the willingness of members to share their knowledge with others, which is affected by several technological, social, and organizational factors. Methodology: A survey was conducted in Somalia to gather primary data from DR practitioners, using purposive sampling as the technique. The survey collected 214 valid responses, which were then analyzed with the PLS-SEM approach. Contribution: The study contributes to an understanding of the real-life hurdles faced by disaster relief organizations by expanding on the C-TAM-TPB model with the inclusion of top management support, organizational rewards, enjoyment in helping others, knowledge self-efficacy, and interpersonal trust factors. Additionally, it provides useful recommendations to managers of disaster relief organizations on the key factors to consider. Findings: The findings recorded that perceived usefulness, ease of use, top management support, enjoyment in helping others, knowledge self-efficacy, and interpersonal trust were critical factors in determining behavioral intention (BI) to use SM-based KS in the DR context. Furthermore, the mediator variables were attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Recommendations for Practitioners: Based on the research findings, it was determined that management should create different discussion forums among the disaster relief teams to ensure the long-term use of SM-based KS within DR organizations. They should also become involved in the discussions for disaster-related knowledge such as food supplies, shelter, or medical relief that disaster victims need. Disaster relief managers should consider effective and adequate training to enhance individual knowledge and self-efficacy since a lack of training may increase barriers and difficulties in using SM for KS during a DR process. Recommendation for Researchers: The conceptual model, further empirically investigated, can be employed by other developing countries in fostering acceptance of SM for KS during disaster relief operations. Impact on Society: Disaster relief operations can be facilitated using social media by considering the challenges DR practitioners face during emergencies. Future Research: In generalizing this study’s findings, other national or global disaster relief organizations should consider, when applying and testing, the research instruments and proposed model. The researchers may extend this study by collecting data from managers or administrators since they are different types of users of the SM-based KS system.

Geo-Environmental Hazards Issues, challenges, and adaptation for Livelihood Security and Disaster Risk Reduction in Rudraprayag District, Uttarakhand

Anthropogenic activities often disrupt the environment and geo-hydrology of Garhwal Himalaya and its significant impacts are visible on the hydrological behaviour of Mandakini River Basin, Rudraprayag District, Uttarakhand. Important factors causing flood and accelerating several hydrological hazards during monsoon periods in the Mandakini river are heavy rainfall, cloudburst, avalanches, slope failure, GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), landslides, soil erosion, rampant tree felling, deforestation, drainage congestion due to unregulated urbanization etc. These changes and some Important factors causing the disaster have been attempted to be understood through primary survey, secondary data and with use of Geospatial (GIS and Remote Sensing) techniques are used to find out the situation and analysis the characteristics of geographical conditions for sustainable development. This research used a cross-sectional study design for disaster risk reduction planning wherein it attempts to assess the livelihood security, disaster-related knowledge, preparedness, adaptation, awareness, and risk perception among the stockholders. This paper also suggests a sustainable policy to accentuate and transform scientific indigenous knowledge into programmes and policies to increase better mutual understanding, collaboration and partnership for better sustainable policy outcomes in the goal of sustainable development and disaster management in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION KNOWLEDGE AMONG FILIPINO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Difficult times can happen anywhere and anytime. When calamities occur in a place where people are not ready to respond, the subsequent damage can lead to mortality, loss, and suffering. The school is an example of such communities where many vulnerable children are susceptible to the negative impact of natural or manmade hazards. This study aimed to determine the disaster-related knowledge, adaptation, preparedness and readiness, risk perception, and awareness of 503 students from the senior high school department of Eastern Samar State University, Philippines. Students' understanding of disaster risk reduction knowledge was gathered using an adapted questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Survey results revealed that despite the school is situated in a rural area, senior high school students are ready, aware adapted, and prepared from the risks inflicted by disasters. Moreover, the sex of the respondents has significant differences with disaster preparedness and readiness, adaptation, and disaster-related knowledge. Likewise, the respondents' grade level, only the disaster-related knowledge, showed a significant difference among all categories. Also, all of the categories of disaster risk reduction have a significant difference with the respondents' academic strands. However, the family monthly income shows no differences in all categories of their perceptions of disaster risk reduction. Furthermore, disaster risk reduction education and initiatives in schools should be enhanced to reduce student's susceptibility to disasters.

Role of Community Health Volunteers Since the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes: A Qualitative Study.

Nepal female community health volunteers (FCHVs) were the first available health personnel in communities during the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. This study explored the facilitating factors and barriers of the FCHVs during health emergencies. In-depth interviews with 24 FCHVs and 4 health managers from 2 districts in Nepal (Gorkha and Sindhupalchowk) were conducted using semi-structured interview guides. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. FCHVs were the first responders to provide services after the earthquakes and were well accepted by the local communities. Different models of supervision existed, and differences in the workload and remuneration offered to FCHVs were described. A wide range of disaster-related knowledge and skills were required by FCHVs, and lack of prior training was an issue for some respondents. Furthermore, lack of access to adequate medical supplies was a major barrier for FCHVs in the 2015 earthquakes. The 5 identified themes were discussed. Providing regular disaster response training for FCHVs and strong leadership from the public sector with sustained investments will be essential for increasing the capacities of community health workforces to prepare for and reduce the impacts of future health emergencies in resource-poor settings.

Gender equality plans (GEPs) as a framework to devise gender equality measures for disaster research

Recently, disaster scholars have started to take a critical stance toward how disaster research is conducted and the extent to which disaster studies are inclusive toward research participants and researchers from diverse backgrounds. This article endorses an inward gaze to reflect on the dynamics playing out within the disaster research in terms of gender imbalances. Importantly, the article is not a review of the studies on gender issues in disaster contexts; rather it seeks to put forth a strategy to illuminate and redress the dynamics of inequality within the disaster research community, taking the gendered power relationships as a starting point. The article starts from the consideration that, despite an increased attention on the gendered dimensions of humanitarian crises, gendered aspects within the disaster research teams and organizations have been largely neglected. In particular, there is a lack of data pertaining to the gender presence and gender biases in the disaster research workforce and in the production of disaster-related knowledge. In order to fill this gap, a systematic plan to collect pertinent gender data and implement appropriate measures is needed. Here, we propose to adopt the framework of the gender equality plans (GEPs), an instrument promoted by the European Commission to advance gender equality in research performing organizations. The actions proposed in this paper seek to encourage reflections on the structural bases upon which disaster research is organized and to support the identification of the aspects we want to preserve and of those we need to change.

DisBot: A Portuguese Disaster Support Dynamic Knowledge Chatbot

This paper presents DisBot, the first Portuguese speaking chatbot that uses social media retrieved knowledge to support citizens and first-responders in disaster scenarios, in order to improve community resilience and decision-making. It was developed and tested using Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM), being progressively matured with field specialists through several design and development iterations. DisBot uses a state-of-the-art Dual Intent Entity Transformer (DIET) architecture to classify user intents, and makes use of several dialogue policies for managing user conversations, as well as storing relevant information to be used in further dialogue turns. To generate responses, it uses real-world safety knowledge, and infers a dynamic knowledge graph that is dynamically updated in real-time by a disaster-related knowledge extraction tool, presented in previous works. Through its development iterations, DisBot has been validated by field specialists, who have considered it to be a valuable asset in disaster management.

Educational needs and disaster response readiness: A cross-sectional study of clinical nurses.

To analyse clinical nurses' educational needs and disaster response readiness and the factors influencing their disaster response readiness. This was a cross-sectional study. A convenience sample comprising 260 nurses with more than a year of working experience at a hospital in Korea was selected from 1-31 August 2019. Data on nurses' educational needs and disaster response readiness were collected from participants. A multiple regression model was used to examine the factors influencing disaster response readiness among nurses. Factors influencing personal readiness were number of years of clinical experience, being female, working in a medical ward, and educational needs for disaster response. Factors influencing self-protection were working in a medical ward and working in the emergency room. Factors influencing the emergency response were working in a medical ward and working in the emergency room. Factors influencing clinical management were a graduate-level education or higher, working in a medical ward, working in the emergency room, working in the paediatric ward, experience receiving disaster-related education, and educational needs for disaster response. It is essential to be aware of the educational needs and disaster readiness of hospital clinical nurses, to develop their capacity to respond such situations. In addition, to improve the disaster competency of nurses, it is necessary to develop an education programme that considers the factors influencing disaster response readiness in this study. Nurses must have the knowledge and skills to respond to a disaster. Nurse educators should help nurses strengthen their disaster-related knowledge, skills, and judgment. Hospital administrators should encourage nurse educators to provide disaster-related training and simulation-based education to increase nurses' disaster competency to act during disasters.

Did the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake trigger a change in the conduct of research on seismic risk?

This study aims to address how the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake influenced knowledge generation and diffusion compared to the research stemming from the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in the United States and the 1995 Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in Japan, for the three countries are exposed to high seismic risk. The findings show that (1) regarding research quantity, the influence of the Wenchuan Earthquake on disaster-related knowledge generation is just beginning compared with the gradual decreases in research on the other earthquakes; (2) regarding disciplinary development, the proportion of studies relating to the Wenchuan Earthquake in natural sciences and engineering technology is gradually decreasing, while the proportion of studies in medical science, social sciences and economics is increasing; (3) the quantity of earthquake-related studies is not solely related to the influence of a specific disaster but associated with the national financial support offered by the affected country. One reason why China experiences the high research output is that Chinese national finance strongly supports such research, similar to the United States and Japan. This phenomenon corresponds with the fact that the major research institutions in China are national institutions rather than universities. Finally, (4) interdisciplinary research on the Wenchuan Earthquake mainly involves interactions between natural sciences and engineering technology. Interactions between other disciplines need to be enhanced. Thus, this research argues that, although disaster knowledge generation and diffusion is imbalanced, the multidimensional nature of earthquakes has been recognized in the literature.

Factors affecting home-based disaster preparedness among school-aged children's parents: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to identify the factors affecting home-based disaster preparedness among Korean parents of school-aged children, based on an ecological model. A descriptive study was conducted involving 233 parents with school-aged children, using an online survey questionnaire. Parents' home-based disaster preparedness scores were classified into four groups: not prepared (36.5%), minimally prepared (38.2%), better prepared (17.6%), and most prepared (7.7%). Home-based disaster preparedness predictors corresponded to occupation and disaster-related knowledge in Model I, parents who had received disaster education in Model II, and age and participation in disaster education for parents and children together in Model III. The findings indicate that home-based disaster preparedness in Korea is inadequate. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and provide disaster-related education programs that consider each population group's needs and disaster preparedness level. Additionally, it is important to form networks for sharing the latest disaster-related information both inside and outside the family to maintain and manage disaster preparedness at home.

Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge among local people in a Selected Community in the Philippines

Background: The Philippines has been classified as highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Hence, reinforcing the capacities of communities towards the risk and adverse impacts of natural hazards is essential in order to reduce vulnerability and manage disasters. The study assessed disaster-related knowledge including (1) disaster preparedness and readiness, (2) disaster adaptation, (3) disaster awareness, and (4) disaster risk perception of the local people in a selected community.&#x0D; Methods: A descriptive-cross sectional study was utilized and a convenience sampling technique was used to select the 60 participants. The disaster risk reduction knowledge was assessed using the Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and univariate linear regression.&#x0D; Results: The study revealed that the local people in the selected community have good knowledge on disaster preparedness and readiness, disaster adaptation, and disaster awareness and fair knowledge on disaster-related knowledge and disaster risk perception. Further, age, sex, civil status, and education did not predict the level of disaster risk reduction knowledge.&#x0D; Conclusion: The initiatives for disaster education in the Philippines are sufficient as evidenced by a good level of disaster risk reduction knowledge among the local people in the selected community.

Influences of Risk Perception and Sense of Place on Landslide Disaster Preparedness in Southwestern China

The effects of risk perception and sense of place on disaster preparedness have been widely reported. However, most studies have only demonstrated weak relationships and it is unknown whether these are applicable to China. This study investigated such relationships in hazard-threatened areas of the Three Gorges Reservoir area in southwestern China. Data were collected from 348 farming households in landslide-prone areas. Binary logistic and Tobit regression models were constructed to determine whether risk perception and sense of place influence landslide preparedness. The results show that: (1) Farming households’ awareness of the need to prepare for disasters was relatively low, and disaster preparedness behaviors were mainly based on self-learning. Among the 348 sampled households, 67% exhibited no disaster preparedness behavior, and only 2% adopted four of the five types of disaster preparedness behaviors. About a quarter of farming households consciously learned disaster-related knowledge. (2) Risk perception and sense of place had important influences on disaster preparedness. Respondents who received higher scores on the perception of the probability of a landslide, the threat of a landslide, and the place dependence variables were more likely to adopt a greater number of disaster preparedness behaviors. Respondents with higher scores on the perception of controllability in the case of a landslide were less likely to adopt a greater number of disaster preparedness behaviors. Additionally, individual and household socioeconomic characteristics—education, loss, distance from hazard site, information acquisition channel, and housing material—were all related to household disaster preparedness behavior. This study contributes to the current literature by improving the understanding of the relationships of risk perception and sense of place to disaster preparedness in farming households threatened by geological disasters in southwestern China.

Disaster risk reduction knowledge of Grade 11 students: Impact of senior high school disaster education in the philippines

Introduction: The Department of Education of the Philippines implements one of the provisions of the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management act of 2010 (DRRM Act) to integrate DRRM in the school curriculum and other educational programs, and to heighten the level of resiliency of students toward natural disasters. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the disaster-related knowledge, preparedness and readiness, adaptation, awareness, and risk perception of Grade 11 students. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 respondents answered the survey questionnaire about DRRM. Responses of Grade 11 students were assessed using the five-point Likert scale. Results: There is a high percentage of students who understood some disaster-related concepts and ideas. Moreover, Grade 11 students are ready, prepared, adapted and aware on the risks inflicted by disasters. However, students were found to have low-disaster risk perception. Conclusion: Senior high school students have high levels of disaster-related knowledge, preparedness and readiness, adaptation, and awareness. This could possibly be the effect of the integration of disaster education in the senior high school science curriculum.

Factors influencing disaster nursing core competencies of emergency nurses

BackgroundEmergency nurses are expected to provide required nursing services by using their professional expertise to reduce the risk posed by disasters. Thus, emergency nurses' disaster nursing core competencies are essential for coping with disasters. The purpose of the study reported here was to identify factors influencing the disaster nursing core competencies of emergency nurses. MethodsA survey was conducted among 231 emergency nurses working in 12 hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected on disaster-related experience, attitude, knowledge, and disaster nursing core competencies by means of a questionnaire. ResultsIn multiple regression analysis, disaster-related experience exerted the strongest influence on disaster nursing core competencies, followed by disaster-related knowledge. The explanatory power of these factors was 25.6%, which was statistically significant (F=12.189, p<0.001). ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the disaster nursing core competencies of emergency nurses could be improved through education and training programs that enhance their disaster preparedness. The nursing profession needs to participate actively in the development of disaster nursing education and training programs.

High school students’ perceptions of earthquake disaster: A comparative study of Lebanon and Turkey

Little is known about high school students’ perceptions of earthquake disasters in the Middle East region. It has been shown that individuals can possess various attitudes towards earthquakes based on gender, ethnicity, social class and disaster-related knowledge and experiences. This study explores the perceptions of two groups: 498 public high school students in Lebanon and 465 public high school students in Turkey. Both groups completed a survey investigating their perceptions of earthquake hazards. An independent t-test revealed significant statistical differences in schools’ roles in implementing needed disaster risk education on earthquakes, while both groups exhibit high adherence to fatalistic beliefs.