Abstract
Background: Disasters in hospitals are still a concern worldwide. The most common disasters affecting hospitals in South Africa are epidemics leading to sudden surges of patients, fires, flooding, bomb threats, and many more. Several studies have identified a knowledge gap among healthcare providers in disaster management and preparedness policies. Hence, disaster management and preparedness policy expect healthcare providers to be able to manage and prepare for unforeseen disasters in their healthcare facilities. Therefore, knowledge and a good attitude toward disaster management and preparedness policy are essential.
Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers about disaster management and preparedness policies in a selected hospital in Johannesburg.
Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional research approach was selected for this study. Different categories of permanent healthcare providers, such as doctors, professional nurses, enrolled nurses, enrolled nurse assistants, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and radiog-raphers and pharmacists, were included in the study. EpiInfo version 7.2.4.0 was used to calculate the study sample out of 1500 population healthcare providers in the study site. A total of 383 par-ticipants were invited to participate in the study, however, only 330 participants responded, there-fore, 330 questionnaires were retrieved. The data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27 software. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analysed. Results were displayed with graphs to display the status of knowledge, training, and attitude amongst healthcare providers. Frequency distribution tables were used to determine the sociodem-ographic characteristics of the participants. Means and standard deviations were computed to deter-mine the relationship between knowledge, attitude, and training. One way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis were used to determine if there is any existing statis-tical significant difference between the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers on disaster management, and preparedness policy according to type of work, educational level, and years of expe-rience.
Results: The study had an adequate response rate( 86.2%) out of 383 participants, only 330 ques-tionnaires were retrieved for analysis. The study sample consisted of females (50.9%), males (48.8%), and only (0.3%) opted not to disclose their gender. The majority of respondents were nurses (39.2%) and medical doctors (26.1%). The study further found that a significantly higher
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proportion of healthcare providers are low in knowledge (40.1%) and attitude (33%) status while smaller numbers of healthcare providers (60%) have high knowledge of disaster management and preparedness policy. Enrolled nursing assistants were more knowledgeable (70%) and had positive attitudes (67%) about disaster management and preparedness policies as compared to other healthcare provider categories. ANOVA indicated that training had significant effects on healthcare providers knowledge (F(8,321) = 4.832, p = <.001) and attitude (F(8,321) = 26.748, p = <.001)
Conclusion: The study findings measured the knowledge and attitude of healthcare providers on disaster management and preparedness policy. Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that knowledge and a good attitude are still lacking among healthcare providers of different categories. From the study findings, we recommend in-service training programs amongst healthcare providers on the job, presided over by health authorities such as occupational health and safety and hospital disaster management committees.
KEY WORDS: Disaster, Knowledge, Healthcare providers, Attitudes, Disaster management, Dis-aster preparedness, Policy, Training.