Development, Psychometric Testing, and Use of a Disaster Nursing Competency Scale in Iran: A Mixed Methods Study

Investigating perceived core disaster competencies of nurses in Iran: A case study of northwest hospitals

AIM

This study was carried out to investigate the perception of the main competencies of disaster management in Iranian emergency department nurses in 2023 in hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. The present study was conducted to explore the perceived core disaster competencies in nurses of hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2023.

BACKGROUND

Due to the rise in natural disasters, their escalating severity and associated regulatory response necessitate a closer look at the preparedness and core competencies of nursing personnel. The main competencies of nurses are necessary to deal with disasters in unexpected events, and they are expected to use their professional expertise to provide the required nursing services to reduce the risks caused by disasters.

METHODOLOGY

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted cross-sectionally between May and September 2023. In the study, a sample of 384 nurses working in the departments of four hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences was selected through a random stratification. The data collection instrument was a 45-item scale of nurses' perceived core competencies (NPDCC) in handling disasters. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and independent samples t-test. The significance level was set at 5%.

RESULTS

The mean total score of perceived core disaster competencies was 139.11 ± 37.65. The technical skills subscale got the highest score (51.81 ± 11.28) and critical thinking skills received the lowest (9.74 ± 3.92). Also, "technical skills" had the highest average and "critical thinking skills" had the lowest average in all three age groups. The results found a significant difference between the scores of nurses in perceived core disaster competencies in age groups, work environments, education degrees, marital statuses, and experiences of attending disaster workshops (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that nurses had different levels of core disaster competencies in the department. There are gaps in the core disaster nursing competencies that need to be filled. Nursing managers should consistently evaluate the core nursing competencies to achieve efficacious disaster preparedness. To this aim, it is recommended that authorities implement training courses and programs to enhance the preparedness of nurses in responding to disasters.

Iranian nurses' perceptions of core competencies required for disaster risk management

BACKGROUND

With an increase in the incidence and severity of disasters, disaster risk management receives an important priority in the health system. Nurses at all levels of healthcare play an important role in disaster risk management and they must have core preparation and competencies to respond to disasters. This study aimed to evaluate Iranian nurses' core competencies required for disaster risk management.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 277 nurses working in three hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2022. The demographic information questionnaire and the nurses' perceptions of disaster core competencies scale (NPDCC) were used to collect data, and SPSS21 was used to analyze data.

RESULTS

Nurses' competencies in disaster risk management were favorable (3.67 ± 0.77), with the subscales of technical skills and special diagnostic skills receiving the highest (3.91 ± 0.65) and the lowest mean scores, respectively (3.46 ± 0.87). The results found a significant difference between the scores of nurses' competencies in disaster risk management in terms of education level, age, work experience, employment status, participation in training courses related to disaster risk management, work experience in incidents and disasters.

CONCLUSION

The study results suggested nurses' high level of competency in disaster risk management, but indicated gaps in their core competencies. The study results recommend authorities provide various training courses related to disaster risk management for all nurses.

A qualitative content analysis for determining indexes and factors affecting for evaluation of disaster exercises immediate feedback stage

BACKGROUND

Taking exercise in health sector is one of the important steps to implement the disaster risk management programs, especially preparedness phase. The present study aimed to identify indexes and factors affecting successful evaluation of disasters preparedness exercises in hot wash stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a qualitative content analysis. Data were collected by purposeful sampling through in-depth and semi-structured individual interviews with 25 health professionals in the field of disasters. The data were analyzed using directed content analysis method by which the initial codes were extracted after transcribing the recorded interviews and immersing them in the data analysis. The initial codes were reviewed, classified, and subdivided into several stages to determine the main classes.

RESULTS

The data analysis resulted in the production of 24 initial codes, 5 subcategories, 2 main categories of "evaluation and exercise debriefing" and "modification of programs and promotion of exercise operational functions" under the original theme of "exercise immediate feedback."

CONCLUSION

This study can be considered a suitable standard guide for health care organizations to evaluate successfully disasters exercises in hot wash stage, maintain and promote their preparedness, and properly respond to disasters.