Disaster preparedness knowledge and its relationship with triage decision-making among hospital and pre-hospital emergency nurses - Ardabil, Iran

Nursing student's experiences of Role-Play Scenario-Based Disaster Triage (START) training: A qualitative research

BACKGROUND

Disasters can overwhelm healthcare systems, making effective triage a crucial skill for nurses. Role-Play Scenario-Based Disaster Triage Training offers a promising approach to prepare nursing students for these situations. Understanding students' experiences with this training method can inform its development and effectiveness in fostering disaster preparedness. However, little is known about this training experience of nursing students. In particular, by examining the challenges faced by students, the emotional distress they experience and their achievements, it will provide guidance for the development of education programs in a more comprehensive and student-oriented manner.

AIM

The aim of this study is to elucidate the experiences of nursing students regarding Role-Play Scenario-Based Disaster Triage Training.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A qualitative approach was employed to comprehend participating students' experiences. Face-to-face and online semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 students using an interview guide, and the interactions were recorded for subsequent analysis. Thematic analysis was employed to develop themes.

RESULTS

The study results emphasize the challenges experienced by students during triage training, their gains and the support they need to cope with the challenges they experience. Data were organized around four main themes: "Challenges of the triage process" with subthemes such as "Thinking of the actual earthquake moment" and "Ethical dilemmas"; "Emotional turmoil" with subthemes including "Anxiety" and "Fear and Helplessness"; "Achievements" with subthemes such as "Increase in knowledge and skills" and "The importance of the nurse"; and "Suggestions" with subthemes including "Continuous education" and "Mandatory course".

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the study provide new insights into the experiences of nursing students during the disaster triage process. The results may contribute to the improvement of future training programs by identifying the challenges and needs faced by nursing students after disaster triage education.

Pre-hospital emergency care personnel's challenges in providing care in mass casualty incidents: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

In incidents with mass casualties, pre-hospital emergency medical services personnel (prehospital EMS personnel) face challenges that can impact their management of the scene and, by extension, their professional performance. The present study investigated the challenges faced by prehospital EMS personnel in mass casualty incidents in the south of Iran.

METHODS

This is a qualitative-descriptive study. The subjects were selected via purposeful sampling. Accordingly, 23 prehospital EMS personnel were interviewed in 23 semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews. Graneheim and Lundman's method was used to collect the data.

RESULTS

Three themes and eight subthemes emerged from the qualitative data analysis. The three main themes were challenges related to professional capabilities, challenges related to organizational management inefficiency, and challenges related to lack of effective inter-organizational coordination and cooperation in crisis management.

CONCLUSION

The challenges faced by prehospital EMS personnel in mass casualty incidents encompasses challenges related to professional capabilities, challenges related to organizational management inefficiency, and challenges related to lack of effective inter-organizational coordination and cooperation in crisis management. The results of this study can be used by senior medical emergency services managers to identify the challenges of pre-hospital emergency care personnel in mass casualty incidents and take the necessary measures to eliminate them to improve the quality of pre-hospital care in mass casualty incidents.

Psychological first aid practice self-efficacy of nurses in disasters

In the present cross-sectional study, we determined the self-efficacy of nurses to apply psychological first aid (PFA) during disasters. The study sample consisted of 580 nurses working in Turkey. The data were collected online between July and November 2022 using the "Personal Information Form" and the "PFA Application Self-Efficacy Scale." The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), generalized linear models, Bonferroni correction, and linear regression analysis. The mean PFA scale scores of male nurses, nurses working in intensive care units, working as service nurses, nurses who have previously received PFA training and applied PFA in disaster situations were higher. Moreover, 91.3% of nurses did not receive PFA training and 90.3% did not receive PFA service earlier, 31.0% did not apply for PFA, 18.3% did not know about PFA. The mean score of the PFA practice self-efficacy scale of nurses was 131.61 ± 19.41. There exists an urgent requirement to develop nurses' PFA application self-efficacy. It is recommended that nurses should be provided repeated PFA training and applied studies focusing on PFA interventions.

Evaluating Disaster Management Preparedness among Healthcare Professionals During Pandemics: Palestinian Context

Introduction

Emergencies are increasingly prevalent, necessitating specialized management to address significant social disruption. Effective management of health emergencies requires resilience from governments and health institutions, as these emergencies are becoming more common and have wide-ranging consequences on health, society, and the economy. Due to the interconnected nature of our global society, events in one location can have international or even global impacts, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

This study aims to assess disaster management preparedness among nurses and physicians during pandemics.

Methods

This study used an online survey conducted in late 2022 to collect primary data through a purposive sampling method, involving both government and private hospitals in Palestine. The participants included 512 nurses and 241 physicians from various hospital units.

Results

The findings indicate varying levels of knowledge among participants, with a significant portion (67%) reporting no prior experience with real disaster situations. Additionally, 63% lacked prior disaster response experience. Regarding training courses, 17.8% of nurses and physicians prioritized emergency preparedness, trauma mass casualty response, and triage disaster management systems. Despite some understanding of disaster management, the study emphasizes the importance of hospital managers implementing national standards, engaging healthcare professionals in continuous education, and addressing gaps in perceived competence.

Conclusion

While participants demonstrated some knowledge of disaster management, the study suggests the importance of hospital managers adopting national standards, engaging healthcare professionals in continuous learning activities, and addressing perceived competence gaps.

Common domains of nurses' competencies in public health emergencies: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

A public health emergency can cause large numbers of deaths in a short period, with devastating social, economic and health consequences. Nurses are the main healthcare providers during such emergencies, and their competencies affect the control and outcomes of the situation. Studies on nurses' competencies in public health emergencies vary between countries and healthcare systems. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review to identify the common domains of nurses' competencies in public health emergencies worldwide.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, CINHAL, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Embase, Cochrane Library, WanFang and ECRI databases from their inception to 2023. All published articles on nurses' competencies in public health emergencies that were published in English and Chinese were included. We mainly analyzed and synthesized nurses' competencies, assessment instruments and the training described in the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 27 competency domains were identified following an analysis and summary. The most frequently cited domains were communication skills, self-protection skills, basic knowledge of a public health emergency, laws and ethics and the capacity for organizational collaboration. The Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool and the Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire were the most commonly used tools for assessing competencies. Most training was conducted online and the content that was covered varied by country.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the significant roles and responsibilities of nurses in public health emergencies, knowing the domains of their competencies is essential to evaluating, developing, and conducting clinical training.

Disaster Preparedness in Hospitals

Disaster preparedness in hospitals is a critical global concern that involves proactive measures to mitigate the impact of natural or artificial disasters. The review emphasizes the role of organizations such as India's National Disaster Management Authority in the development of response strategies. Hospitals face challenges in protecting facilities and healthcare workers during disasters, highlighting the need for effective training, equipment, and communication access. Differentiating disasters into natural, technological, and artificial types showcases the varied challenges each presents. Key challenges include resource allocation, interoperability of the communication system, evacuation strategies, and ethical considerations. Essential strategies include risk assessment, staff training, communication, and collaboration with external partners. Hospital disaster preparedness requires a comprehensive approach that involves strategies, training, and community participation to ensure safety during emergencies.

Exploring the competencies of operating room nurses in mobile surgical teams based on the Onion Model: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

With the frequent occurrence of public health emergencies, conflicts and natural disasters around the world, mobile surgical teams are becoming more crucial. The competency of the operating room (OR) nurse has a substantial impact on the effectiveness and quality of the surgical team's treatment, still there is limited knowledge about OR nurse competencies in mobile surgical teams. This study aimed to explore the competencies of OR nurses in mobile surgical teams based on the Onion Model.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of participants from 10 mobile surgical teams in 2022. Twenty-one surgical team members were interviewed, including 15 OR nurses, four surgeons, and two anesthesiologists. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Mayring's content analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight competencies were found in the data analysis, which were grouped into four major domains using the Onion Model. From the outer layer to the inner layer were knowledge and skills, professional abilities, professional quality, and personal traits. The qualitative data revealed several novel competencies, including triage knowledge, self and mutual medical aid, outdoor survival skills, and sense of discipline.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of the Onion Model promotes the understanding of competency and strengthens the theoretical foundations of this study. New competencies can enrich the content of the competencies of OR nurses. The results of this study can be used for clinical recruitment, evaluation and training of OR nurses in mobile surgical teams. This study encourages further research to develop competency assessment tools and training programs for OR nurses.