Evaluating the use of the disaster preparedness scale for nursing in Japan

• Published in: Health Emergency and Disaster Nursing 2022/03/25, Vol.9(1), pp.74-94
• Main Authors: NISHIGAMI, Ayumi, YAMAMOTO, Aiko, MURAKAMI, Masumi, KAMIIZUMI, Kazuko, OHNO, Kaori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: competency; disaster; nursing; preparedness; scale
• ISSN: 2188-2053; 2188-2061
• DOI: 10.24298/hedn.2020-0011

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the significance of the Disaster Preparedness Scale for Nursing (DPSN) as a tool for disaster preparedness in nursing and to determine the extent of which 131 DPSN items could be implemented in hospitals, public health clinics and academic institutions.Methods: The DPSN tool and online questionnaire to rank the implementation rate and significance of the DPSN tool was sent to 1,434 Japanese nursing facilities that included hospitals, public health centers and nursing universities. Two anonymous responses from each facility were requested. Average scores were calculated from all respondents in their respective facility type. The results were compared between respondents who had first-hand disaster experience in a base hospital located in the disaster area with those who provided remote response support experience.Results: The overall significance of the DPSN tool was relatively high for all respondents. There seemed to be several challenges that would impede the implementation of the DPSN tool in each respondent’s respective facility. Additionally, some responded that certain items were “Not Applicable” at their facility.Conclusions: The results suggest that most of the 131 items of the DPSN tool should be implemented to help nurses with their disaster preparedness. The level of nursing preparedness in managing disasters is still relatively low, thus it is believed that the DPSN tool can help raise this level at all nursing facilities throughout Japan.