Registered Nurses’ Experiences and Preparedness for Hajj Mass Gatherings: An Exploratory Study

Registered Nurses’ Experiences and Preparedness for Hajj Mass Gatherings: An Exploratory Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Registered Nurses’ Experiences and Preparedness for Hajj Mass Gatherings: An Exploratory Study Thawab Alrabie, Michael Brown, Billiejoan Rice, Lynne Marsh This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7118974/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 22 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Nursing → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: Mass gatherings such as the Hajj pose significant challenges to healthcare systems due to extreme crowd density, environmental stressors, and increased risk of medical emergencies. These events require robust disaster preparedness and highly coordinated medical responses. However, existing literature indicates critical gaps in the readiness of healthcare professionals. Aim: This study explores the preparedness and experiences of Registered Nurses during the Hajj, with a focus on identifying key barriers, needs, and strategies for effective disaster preparedness and response. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was used, involving semi-structured interviews with ten Registered Nurses in Taif and Makkah. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to explore experiences and challenges in disaster preparedness during the Hajj. Findings: The study identified five key themes from interviews with Registered Nurses involved in the Hajj mass gatherings, reflecting critical aspects of their experiences in delivering care during this large-scale event. These themes include disaster and crisis management, patient care delivery, staff well-being and stress management, training and preparedness for Hajj, and communication and inter-agency coordination. Conclusion: This study highlights the multifaceted challenges faced by registered nurses during the Hajj, emphasizing the need for improved disaster preparedness, culturally competent care, and coordinated response systems. It also reveals the importance of supporting both the technical and emotional dimensions of care to enhance healthcare delivery in mass gatherings. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Semistructuredinterviewsquestionsguide.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 22 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Nursing → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 11 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 24 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 14 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 14 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 07 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 07 Aug, 2025 Editor invited by journal 22 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 21 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 21 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7118974","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":499111719,"identity":"8091504c-e14c-4832-af6a-f59c03fd1bca","order_by":0,"name":"Thawab Alrabie","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA6klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFAC5gYGxgYJBjb25gNABkQIrwYekDKQFn6eYwkkaWFgkJyRY0CcFnv2g20ffu6wkDM4kPPxNu8OBnn+Bh5jA7y28CQ2z+w9I2FscODsZmveMwyGMw7wGCfgd1hiMwNvm0TihoO926R52xgYNzDwGB/Aq4X/YTPj3zaJ+g2HeZ6BtNgT1iKR2MwMtCVBso2HDaQlEaQFv8NuPGxmlj0jYdjPw2ZsOfeMRPKMw2zFeL3P3p98mPHtjjp5NvnHD2+83WFj29/evFkCnxYUIAFG+GMFU8soGAWjYBSMAkwAAJi5Q/saUsvtAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Umm al-Qura University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Thawab","middleName":"","lastName":"Alrabie","suffix":""},{"id":499111720,"identity":"ba062d20-79df-4b3d-a20f-45af417fa1d9","order_by":1,"name":"Michael Brown","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Queen's University Belfast","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Michael","middleName":"","lastName":"Brown","suffix":""},{"id":499111721,"identity":"05bee127-4b7e-47f5-8d7e-77627cc96d2e","order_by":2,"name":"Billiejoan Rice","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Queen's University Belfast","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Billiejoan","middleName":"","lastName":"Rice","suffix":""},{"id":499111722,"identity":"820bdccc-57db-4c09-abef-ceadfe3403d3","order_by":3,"name":"Lynne Marsh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Queen's University Belfast","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lynne","middleName":"","lastName":"Marsh","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-14 08:53:13","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7118974/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7118974/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-04002-y","type":"published","date":"2025-10-22T16:16:24+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":94490433,"identity":"1cae3adf-36d8-48d4-817b-c370e2160b12","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-27 17:10:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":489022,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"RNsManuscript3.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7118974/v1_covered_92b1ac26-3472-4636-b301-b03339bd5038.pdf"},{"id":88878064,"identity":"da2f8804-09f2-46bd-a8c4-d1f1137990e2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-12 10:36:32","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":43832,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Semistructuredinterviewsquestionsguide.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7118974/v1/227c26f4741c3c4b14f3bb77.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Registered Nurses’ Experiences and Preparedness for Hajj Mass Gatherings: An Exploratory Study","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-nursing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nurs","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Nursing](http://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/nurs/default.aspx","title":"BMC Nursing","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7118974/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7118974/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eBackground: Mass gatherings such as the Hajj pose significant challenges to healthcare systems due to extreme crowd density, environmental stressors, and increased risk of medical emergencies. These events require robust disaster preparedness and highly coordinated medical responses. However, existing literature indicates critical gaps in the readiness of healthcare professionals.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAim: This study explores the preparedness and experiences of Registered Nurses during the Hajj, with a focus on identifying key barriers, needs, and strategies for effective disaster preparedness and response.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMethods: A qualitative exploratory design was used, involving semi-structured interviews with ten Registered Nurses in Taif and Makkah. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to explore experiences and challenges in disaster preparedness during the Hajj.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFindings: The study identified five key themes from interviews with Registered Nurses involved in the Hajj mass gatherings, reflecting critical aspects of their experiences in delivering care during this large-scale event. These themes include disaster and crisis management, patient care delivery, staff well-being and stress management, training and preparedness for Hajj, and communication and inter-agency coordination.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConclusion: This study highlights the multifaceted challenges faced by registered nurses during the Hajj, emphasizing the need for improved disaster preparedness, culturally competent care, and coordinated response systems. It also reveals the importance of supporting both the technical and emotional dimensions of care to enhance healthcare delivery in mass gatherings.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Registered Nurses’ Experiences and Preparedness for Hajj Mass Gatherings: An Exploratory Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-12 10:36:27","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7118974/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-09-11T08:01:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-24T23:32:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-14T08:44:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"44260956544960349408079762168722691798","date":"2025-08-14T07:54:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"107386335504630135085880298468554366275","date":"2025-08-14T07:37:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-14T04:32:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"180717129935956264056088602161883239002","date":"2025-08-07T23:12:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-07T11:32:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-08-07T11:23:52+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-22T09:53:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-07-21T13:04:14+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Nursing","date":"2025-07-21T13:02:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-nursing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nurs","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Nursing](http://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/nurs/default.aspx","title":"BMC Nursing","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e31cbe8d-25a1-4d1a-ad8c-9d6a0e74f3ef","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 12th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-27T16:22:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7118974","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-04002-y","journal":{"identity":"bmc-nursing","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Nursing"},"publishedOn":"2025-10-22 16:16:24","publishedOnDateReadable":"October 22nd, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-12 10:36:27","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12912-025-04002-y","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-04002-y","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7118974","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7118974","identity":"rs-7118974","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}