Nurses' perception of disaster: implications for disaster nursing curriculum

Area of Science:

• Disaster nursing research
• Public health preparedness
• Healthcare professional perception studies

Background:

• International concern over frequent disasters.
• Increased demands on nursing staff during disaster events.
• Limited understanding of disaster concepts among Hong Kong nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify nurses' perceptions of disaster.
• To determine if nurses recognize Hong Kong events as disasters.
• To ascertain the types of disasters nurses deem likely in Hong Kong.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive study design.
• Utilized a questionnaire to explore disaster perception.
• Distributed questionnaires to master's degree nursing students in Hong Kong.

Main Results:

• 75% of respondents described disasters, defining them as events with numerous victims.
• The Lan Kwai Fong tragedy and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak were frequently cited Hong Kong disasters.
• Fires, infectious disease outbreaks, and stampedes were identified as likely future disasters.

Conclusions:

• Understanding nurses' disaster perceptions is crucial for planning and curriculum development in Hong Kong.
• Equipping nurses globally with disaster care knowledge is essential.
• This study informs disaster nursing curriculum development and preparedness research.