The Knowledge and Training Needs of Disaster Medicine among Health-care Professionals and Medical Students in Makkah City: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Disasters are a serious public health concern with increasing frequency and intensity worldwide. Health-care professionals are expected to be well-prepared for disasters, but those in low-to-middle-income countries may not have adequate training. Medical students also have critical gaps in disaster management knowledge. Despite major investments by the Saudi government to prevent and manage disasters, Makkah city, a pilgrimage site for millions of Muslims, continues to experience disasters during the season. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge level, preparedness, and the training gaps regarding disaster medicine among health professionals and medical students/interns in Makkah city. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Makkah. Physicians, nurses, and medical students/interns were included. A previously utilized survey tool was adopted for this study. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and ANOVA tests as appropriate. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed using the JMP statistical software. Results: There were 651 participants in the study. The mean age was 27.69 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.13–27.24) with 360 (55.30%) males. With 16 as the full score, the mean score of disaster medicine knowledge was 7.90 (95% CI: 8.29–7.51) for medical students/interns, 8.12 (95% CI: 8.77–7.47) for nurses, and 4.85 (95% CI: 5.21–4.49) for physicians (P < 0.0001). Most participants selected “first aid skills” and “triage and evacuation” as crucial aspects to be covered in learning disaster medicine: 406 (62.4%) and 373 (57.3%), respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a concerning gap in the level of knowledge of healthcare providers regarding disaster medicine. These gaps should be addressed considering the possible huge impact and consequences of disasters. All disaster responders, especially frontliners, must be competent and well prepared to respond to the wide array of disasters.