What are the factors associated with healthcare workers willingness to participate in disaster?

"Months after an airstrike on a neighborhood populated by black Yemenis, or "Muhamasheen," more than a hundred buildings still remain in rubble and survivors continue to search for any valuables, Sana'a, Yemen, Oct. 9, 2015. (Almigdad Mojalli/VOA)"

Disaster situation affecting the healthcare system and deliveries is becoming more common. The geopolitical situation and climate changes have contributed to increase in natural and man-made disaster situation. It is estimated that by 2025, more than half of the world population will live in areas that are prone to natural disasters. Dr Weiam Al-Hunaishi, a Master of Public Health student from Yemen, conducted a study among 692 healthcare workers in three hospitals in the Sana’a Governorate in Yemen to assess their willingness to participate in natural and man-made disasters.

The study found that self-efficacy was associated with willingness to participate in disaster response for any type of disasters (Odds Ratio, OR 1.319, 95% Confidence Interval, 95%CI: 1.197, 1.453), natural disasters (OR 1.143, 95%CI: 1.069, 1.221) and influenza pandemic (OR 1.114, 95%CI: 1.050, 1.182). The results further show that willingness is associated with healthcare workers being young, male and having higher educational qualifications. Improving self-efficacy through training in disaster preparedness may increase willingness of healthcare workers to participate in a disaster.

The findings were published in BMJ Open: Al-Hunaishi W, Hoe VC, Chinna K. Factors associated with healthcare workers willingness to participate in disasters: a cross-sectional study in Sana’a, Yemen. BMJ Open 2019; 9: e030547. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030547. Dr Weiam Al-Hunaishi was supervised by Prof Dr Victor CW Hoe. Prof Karuthan Chinna assisted in the analysis.

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