Disaster Preparedness and Its Association with Resilience, Personality Traits, and Organizational Factors among Registered Nurses رسالة دكتوراة

Abstract

Background: Disaster preparedness among nurses was crucial for effective crisis response and patient care. Despite global initiatives to enhance disaster preparedness among healthcare professionals, challenges remained in ensuring consistent training and readiness. While there have been studies on disaster preparedness, significant gaps persisted in integrating comprehensive disaster preparedness curricula into nursing education and ongoing professional development. Additionally, variability in the implementation and standardization of preparedness protocols across different healthcare institutions contributed to these gaps. Thus, there was a pressing need to systematically evaluate and enhance disaster preparedness programs to ensure that nurses were adequately equipped to respond to crises, particularly in regions with diverse healthcare systems and varying levels of infrastructure and resources. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the associations between nurses' resilience, personality traits (dispositional optimism and trait anxiety), nurse-nurse interaction, and organizational factors in their work environment, with both disaster preparedness (e.g., skills and resources) and psychological (e.g., emotional and mental readiness) dimensions of disaster preparedness, as described in relevant literature. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Israel, involving 256 registered nurses recruited through convenience sampling. Data collection took place over one year from May 2023 to May 2024, utilizing a structured questionnaire to assess both disaster preparedness and psychological disaster preparedness, resilience, personality traits (dispositional optimism and trait anxiety), nurse-nurse interaction, and organizational factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the data. Pearson correlations were used to explore relationships between continuous variables. Independent samples t-tests were VI conducted to compare the means of two independent groups, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare means among three or more groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of nurses' disaster preparedness and psychological disaster preparedness. Results: Descriptive analysis revealed varying levels of nurses' resilience, personality traits (dispositional optimism and trait anxiety), nurse-nurse interaction, organizational factors, and both disaster preparedness and psychological dimensions of disaster preparedness. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant associations between nurses' resilience, personality traits, nurse-nurse interaction, organizational factors, and disaster preparedness dimensions. Independent samples t-tests and ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in disaster preparedness levels based on individual and organizational factors. Multiple linear regression analysis identified predictors of disaster preparedness and psychological disaster preparedness among nurses. Conclusion: The study highlighted the complex aspects of nurses' disaster preparedness, emphasizing the importance of organizational support, positive work environments, and leadership. It suggested that while disaster preparedness was moderate, psychological preparedness needed specific strategies to enhance coping and stress management. Integrating these aspects into disaster planning was vital. Prioritizing targeted interventions and education could improve nurses' resilience and their ability to provide effective care in emergencies. Keywords: Crisis response, Dispositional optimism, Disaster Preparedness, Emergency care, Healthcare professionals, disaster preparedness, Nurse-nurse interaction, Organizational factors, Personality traits, Psychological preparedness, Resilience, Trait anxiety