The predictors of earthquake preparedness in Tehran households

An assessment of nurses' perceived and actual household emergency preparedness

Nurses' household preparedness is critical if they are to avoid role conflict and report for duty during an emergency. To date, the alignment between nurses' perceived and actual household preparedness remains under examined. Investigating one of these variables in isolation fails to consider that perceived and actual household preparedness must be high and aligned. If misaligned, vulnerabilities could surface during emergencies, like concerns about family safety, potentially impacting a nurse's commitment to duty during a crisis, or nurses may lack the actual preparedness to continue working long hours during an emergency. An online questionnaire was distributed to registered nurses in Ireland. The questionnaire was informed by a review of the literature and captured nurses' perceived and actual household preparedness, attitudes towards and exposure to a range of emergencies, and pertinent demographic characteristics. The results showed a relationship between how nurses view their household preparedness and their actual preparedness. Regression analyses indicate that while there is an overlap, the factors associated with how prepared nurses think they are and how prepared they are can differ. This means that strategies to boost actual preparedness may differ from those needed to boost perceived preparedness. This finding underscores the importance of psychosocial preparedness. Feeling prepared is crucial as it can influence how one responds in an emergency. Considering both the perceived and actual aspects of household preparedness can lead to a more effective response during emergencies.

Factors related to earthquake preparedness of households based on social-cognitive theory constructs: A systematic review

Background

Earthquakes cause many casualties worldwide. Taking preventive measures and improving community preparedness is critical to reducing earthquake damage. The social cognitive theory explains how individual and environmental factors cause behavior. This review was conducted to identify the social cognitive theory structures, in research on the preparedness of households against earthquakes.

Materials and methods

This systematic review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search was conducted from January 1, 2000, to October 30, 2021 in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The initial search yielded 9,225 articles, and finally, 18 articles were selected. Articles were assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist.

Results

Eighteen articles about disaster preparedness behaviors based on the socio-cognitive constructs were identified and reviewed. The essential constructs used in the reviewed studies included self-efficacy, collective efficacy, knowledge, outcome expectations, social support, and normative beliefs.

Conclusion

By identifying the dominant structures that have been used in studies related to the preparedness of households against earthquakes, researchers can implement appropriate and more cost-effective interventions by focusing on improving suitable structures.

Factors Associated with Knowledge of Evacuation Routes and Having an Emergency Backpack in Individuals Affected by a Major Earthquake in Piura, Peru

Information on the prevention of earthquakes in Peru, a high-risk country, is still emerging. We determined the frequency and factors associated with knowledge of evacuation routes and the use of emergency backpacks in people affected by a major earthquake. A cross-sectional study using secondary data was conducted from August-December 2021 on people that experienced the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Piura, Peru on 30 July 2021. The outcome was self-reported knowledge of evacuation routes and the use of emergency backpacks. The association with self-reported earthquake preparation training, use of sources of information on earthquakes, and sociodemographic variables was investigated. A total of 69.5% of participants knew evacuation routes, and 46.3% had an emergency backpack. A higher frequency of knowledge of evacuation routes was associated with previous training (PR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.15-1.87), use of the media (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.06-1.72), having received information from the COEN (PR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02-1.40), and with a greater number of household members (PR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06). There is a high frequency of knowledge of evacuation routes among participants. However, basic notions of prevention culture are still needed. This research contributes to policy development on earthquake preparation at the community level.

Faculty members' earthquake preparedness levels and their related factors: a cross-sectional study from a university in a high-risk earthquake zone in Turkey

BACKGROUND

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the earthquake preparedness levels and related factors of the faculty members working at a university located in a province in a first-degree earthquake zone in Turkey.

METHODS

The total number of faculty members at the university is 457, including 314 assistant professors, 63 associate professors, and 80 full professors. The study group included 177 (38.7%) of 457 faculty members. The dependent variable of the study is the attitudes of the faculty members towards earthquake preparedness. The independent variables were age, gender, marital status, having children, living with or without children, duration of residency in Karabuk. In addition, these were also included as variables, respectively, type of housing, property ownership, work experience, exposure to natural disasters in the past, and the awareness that Karabuk is a first-degree risk earthquake zone. The data were collected using a descriptive questionnaire and Mulilis-Lippa Earthquake Preparedness Scale. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and binary logistic regression model and SPSS 20.0 software.

RESULTS

There was only one (0.6%) faculty member who stated that he meets all of the preparatory criteria of the Mulilis-Lippa Earthquake Preparedness Scale. The probability of low materials preparedness score increased by 2.31 (95% CI 1.1-4.7) and 4.53 (95% CI 1.4-14.4) when the faculty members were renters and working as faculty members for 15 years and over, respectively. Being a renter also increased the probability of common knowledge and skill score by 1.95 (95% CI 1.0-3.8).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that earthquake preparedness levels among the faculty members are insufficient and suggests that motivation of the faculty members' motivation to be appropriately prepared for future earthquake case should be increased.

Household Emergency Preparedness Instrument Development: A Delphi Study

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this research was to generate a consensus on the conceptual definition of household emergency preparedness from experts representing multiple disciplines and countries, in order to facilitate the development of an all-hazards, comprehensive, valid, and reliable instrument.

METHODS

Questions were generated via 3 methods: literature search, using existing instruments, and expert panels using the Delphi technique.

RESULTS

Panelists (n = 154) representing 36 countries came to a consensus that household emergency preparedness is defined as the completion of several preparedness actions and assembling a kit that can be transported in an evacuation. The new 51-question instrument demonstrates face, content, and criterion validity and internal consistency reliability (α = 0.96). The instrument assesses whether specific preparedness actions have been taken, and the presence or absence of essential supplies that could enable households to safely endure conditions that disasters would likely present (loss of power, water limitations, and/or lack of access to additional supplies for a few days).

CONCLUSION

A valid and reliable instrument provides researchers with a replicable approach to assessment of preparedness levels, which is necessary to plan mitigation strategies, enhance health promotion, prevent injuries, and increase resilience for individuals and communities. The instrument can provide evidence to support interventions addressing health needs of community members following a disaster.