Disaster Preparedness Education among Community: What is effective? An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Community-based disaster preparedness is vital in all types of disaster scenarios. Despite having resources and post-disaster training, growing evidence indicates that many residents struggle to prepare ahead of a disaster. Objectives: The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of disaster preparedness education for community. Methods: A literature search was conducted using combination of the following keyword: “disaster planning” or “disaster preparedness” or “disaster training” and “evaluation or outcomes of education” and “community” or “family” Medline database via OVID and ProQuest Social Sciences Journals. Results: The review included fourteen articles, seven of which were quantitative, four of which were qualitative, and three of which were mixed-method studies. The education contents were related to psychological first aid, evacuation sites and routes in times of disaster, items to prepare in case of emergency, preparing for safety inside a home, community mapping, and responding to psychological trauma, and how to build sustainability into community work. Conclusion: All of the strategies and content used in disaster preparedness tend to enhance community preparedness. More research is needed to identify best practices for community disaster preparedness by using more rigors method and consider the local needs or barriers in designing education program.