Emergency Nurses' Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Disaster Preparedness and Management in Emergency Departments in the Northern Division, The Republic of Fiji
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v8i3.449Keywords:
Disaster management, Disaster preparedness, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Disaster nursingAbstract
Background: Since the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), substantial efforts have been undertaken globally to reduce the impact of disasters. Nevertheless, individuals, families, communities and nations continue to be adversely affected. As front-line responders, nurses play a pivotal role in supporting communities during emergencies and crises. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of emergency nurses in the Northern Division of Fiji regarding disaster preparedness and management, and to examine factors associated with these outcomes.
Methods: A descriptive, quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to emergency nurses working in divisional and sub-divisional hospitals and health centres across the Northern Division of Fiji.
Results: A total of 61 nurses participated in the study, representing a 93.8% response rate. Most respondents were based in hospitals and health centres (82%). Overall, participants demonstrated adequate knowledge and positive attitudes towards disaster preparedness and management; however, fewer than half reported good practices, and less than half were aware of their institution’s disaster management policies and procedures. Nearly three-quarters had never read or seen the health disaster management policy, and 77% had never undergone disaster preparedness training. No significant associations were found between participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and their KAP scores.
Conclusion: Despite frequent disasters in Fiji, emergency nurses in the Northern Division showed a gap between knowledge/attitude and practice in disaster management. These findings underscore an urgent need for a comprehensive disaster management policy and structured training to strengthen emergency nurses’ preparedness and response capacity in the region.
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