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Measuring readiness for disaster response in physiotherapy education: development and validation predisposition
Maria da Lapa Rosado1, Cláudia Silva2, Cristina Dos Santos Cardoso de Sá1,3
1Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Frontiers in Public Health
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Physiotherapy students show interest in emergency, disaster, and humanitarian action (EDHA) but lack adequate preparation and technical skills. Curricular reforms are urgently needed to integrate competency-based EDHA training for improved public health preparedness.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Professions Education
- Disaster Management
Background:
- Increasing global emergencies necessitate a prepared health workforce.
- Physiotherapists are crucial in post-disaster care, but student readiness for emergency, disaster, and humanitarian action (EDHA) is understudied.
- Limited evidence exists on physiotherapy students' preparedness for EDHA roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an assessment tool for physiotherapy students' EDHA readiness.
- To examine students' predisposition, perceived competence, and readiness for EDHA.
- To identify gaps in current physiotherapy education regarding EDHA.
Main Methods:
- A two-phase study involving instrument development and content validation with experts.
- A 12-item questionnaire assessed predisposition, perceived competence, and readiness.
- Phase 2: Cross-sectional survey of 126 physiotherapy students across six Portuguese institutions.
Main Results:
- The validated instrument showed excellent content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.98).
- A majority of students (61.9%) were interested in EDHA, but only 35.7% felt prepared.
- Significant gaps were found in technical skills (rehabilitation training, peer training) and specific areas like psychological first aid and burn management.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a validated tool to assess and monitor physiotherapy students' EDHA readiness.
- A notable gap exists between student interest and perceived competence in EDHA.
- Integrating structured, competency-based EDHA training into physiotherapy curricula is essential to enhance public health preparedness.
