Current Understanding of Emergency Medicine and Knowledge, Practice, and Attitude Toward Disaster Preparedness and Management Among Healthcare Workers in Nepal

Introduction: Disasters are serious disruptions to a community’s functioning that exceed its capacity to cope using its resources. Natural, man-made, technological hazards, and other factors may cause disasters and influence a community’s exposure and vulnerability. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, practice, and attitude of healthcare workers in Nepal regarding disaster preparedness and management for emergencies. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among healthcare workers in Nepal registered for the 1st World Academic Council of Emergency Medicine- Table-top Exercise and Communication in Disaster Medicine conference as participants or faculty. Information was collected using total enumeration sampling and a questionnaire developed from a literature review, and the questionnaire was adapted from the Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire (EPIQ). Percentages, means, and medians were calculated for socio-demographic data, knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward emergency preparedness. A chi-square test assessed associations between socio demographic characteristics, emergency procedures, and familiarity scores on the preparedness questionnaire. Results: A total of 118 participants took part in the study, most with over six months of emergency department experience. There was a significant association between work experience and emergency procedure status (χ2 = 6.982, p=0.008), and between education level and familiarity with disaster management (χ2 = 5.507, p=0.019). However, there was a low correlation (r=0.140, p=0.129) between emergency procedure status and disaster management familiarity. Conclusion: Emergency preparedness is crucial for life-saving in disasters. The availability of emergency services and skills related to emergency preparedness and disaster management is crucial for saving lives in emergency conditions. The hospital should provide emergency preparedness and disaster management training to all healthcare workers. In addition, the hospital authority should perform disaster exercises/tabletop simulation exercises, or drills periodically.