Preparedness and Awareness Levels of Intensive Care and Operating Room Personnel for Disaster Situations: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Hospital

Preparedness and Awareness Levels of Intensive Care and Operating Room Personnel for Disaster Situations: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Hospital | 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 Preparedness and Awareness Levels of Intensive Care and Operating Room Personnel for Disaster Situations: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Hospital Esra Kongur, Gamze Küçükosman, Gülgün Elif Aksoy This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8030269/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 14 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Emergency Medicine → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background This study was conducted to evaluate the preparedness, knowledge level, and psychosocial awareness of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units and operating rooms regarding disaster situations. Methods This descriptive and cross-sectional study included 288 healthcare professionals working in a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using the “Improved Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire” and analyzed with Jamovi and R Studio software. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were employed for data analysis. Results Participants demonstrated high levels of awareness regarding the definition of disasters and disaster plans (93.4% and 68.1%, respectively). However, deficiencies were identified in knowledge of their specific roles during disasters, participation in drills, and the use of equipment. Statistically significant differences were observed between professional groups and their disaster roles, reasons for volunteering, and competencies in using disaster equipment (p < 0.05). The demand for psychological support was high (56.9%), and willingness to volunteer during disasters was also notable (57.3%). Conclusion Although intensive care unit and operating room personnel demonstrated a basic level of awareness regarding disaster situations, improvements are needed in terms of practical action and implementation. Increasing the frequency of training sessions and drills, as well as incorporating more disaster scenarios, is recommended. Disaster preparedness intensive care operating room healthcare professionals disaster management volunteering Figures Figure 1 Background Disasters are widespread events across the world that can lead to large-scale mortality, injury, destruction, and disruption ( 1 ). They may arise from natural, human-induced, or technological causes ( 2 ). Effective disaster management is of critical importance, as the disaster and emergency management process is defined to assist vulnerable populations, support post-disaster rehabilitation, and ensure the prompt return of affected individuals to normal life ( 2 ). In disaster management, the role of healthcare professionals encompasses not only patient care and medical interventions but also pre-disaster planning, resource management, patient evacuation, coordination, personal safety, and post-disaster rehabilitation ( 3 ). Being prepared for disasters is of great importance in minimizing their potentially devastating impacts ( 4 ). Preparedness refers to equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable a rapid and effective response during a disaster ( 5 ). In the literature, it has been demonstrated that disaster awareness and preparedness levels determine the capacity of healthcare professionals to respond effectively to disasters ( 6 ). Other studies conducted in Türkiye have shown that healthcare personnel particularly exhibit deficiencies in areas such as practical disaster training, equipment utilization, and task distribution ( 7 ). This study aims to evaluate the knowledge levels, volunteering tendencies, and psychological awareness of intensive care and operating room personnel regarding disaster situations, and to contribute to disaster management strategies based on the findings obtained. Methods Study design and setting This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 at a tertiary training and research hospital in Trabzon, Türkiye, to evaluate disaster preparedness and awareness among ICU and OR personnel. Sampling and participants The study population included physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals working in ICUs and ORs. A total of 288 participants were recruited through institutional invitations and voluntary participation after providing written informed consent. Data collection instrument Data were collected using the Improved Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire (IDPQ), developed and validated by experts. It covered demographics, disaster knowledge, preparedness, volunteerism, and psychosocial factors. Completion time was approximately 10–15 minutes. Data analysis Data were analyzed using Jamovi and R Studio software. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the chi-square test was applied to assess group differences. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethical consideration Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Health Sciences, Trabzon Faculty of Medicine Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/186, Date: 04 March 2025). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data availability The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable Results Among the participating healthcare personnel, 68.8% were female, 62.5% were aged 18–39 years, 82.3% were nurses or other healthcare staff, and 17.7% were physicians. A total of 53.5% worked in intensive care units, while 40.6% were employed in operating rooms (Table 1 ). The sample, being predominantly young, female, and nurse-based, was consistent with the demographic profile of healthcare personnel in Türkiye. Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of the Study Population Demographic Characteristic Participants (%) Explanation Gender (Female) 68.8% The majority of participants were female. Age Range (18–39 years) 62.5% Most of the sample consisted of young adults. Professional Distribution – Nurses/Other HP 82.3% The majority were nurses and other healthcare personnel. Professional Distribution – Physicians 17.7% Physicians represented a smaller proportion of the sample. Workplace – Intensive Care Unit 53.5% More than half were employed in intensive care units. Workplace – Operating Room 40.6% A significant proportion worked in operating rooms. HP : healthcare personnel A total of 93.4% of participants correctly defined the concept of disaster, with no significant difference across professional groups (p > 0.05). Regarding disaster experience, 33.3% of physicians (17/51) and 25.7% of nurses (61/237) reported having previously experienced a disaster. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.268). When asked about knowledge of task distribution during disasters, 74.5% of physicians and 66.7% of nurses stated that they could obtain this information from the “disaster plan,” a difference close to statistical significance (p = 0.066). Overall, 89.9% of participants correctly identified “ensuring the safety of current patients” as the primary responsibility in their unit during a disaster (p = 0.189). Half of the nurses (50.2%) reported knowing their role in a disaster, compared to 31.4% of physicians, with a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.003). Equipment use competency was 40.5% among nurses and 15.7% among physicians, also showing a significant difference (p = 0.043). In response to the question “Do you know how to act in a disaster?”, 68.4% of nurses answered “I know/partially know,” compared to 50.9% of physicians (p < 0.001), suggesting that nurses demonstrated greater confidence in practical preparedness and action (Table 2 ). Table 2 Statistically Significant Differences Between Physicians and Other Healthcare Personnel (Nurses) Variable Physicians (%) Other Healthcare Personnel (Nurses) (%) p-value Stated knowing their role in disasters 31.4 50.2 0.003 Competency in equipment use 15.7 40.5 0.043 Knowing how to act during a disaster 50.9 68.4 < 0.001 Reason for volunteering: Professional responsibility 56.8 34.2 0.002 Reason for volunteering: Desire to help people 47.1 63.3 0.032 Not willing to volunteer 27.4 13.5 0.014 Familiarity with disaster communication systems Lower Higher 0.030 Experience with equipment in disaster drills Lower Higher 0.047 Regarding motivations for volunteering in disasters, 56.8% of physicians and 34.2% of nurses cited “professional responsibility,” whereas 63.3% of nurses and 47.1% of physicians prioritized “the desire to help people.” These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.002 and p = 0.032, respectively). The response “I do not want to volunteer” was higher among physicians (27.4%) compared to nurses (13.5%), also reaching statistical significance (p = 0.014) (Table 2 ). Participation in disaster drills was found to be 37.5%. Physicians reported lower levels of experience in equipment and material management compared to nurses (p = 0.047). Nurses also demonstrated higher levels of familiarity with disaster communication systems, with a significant difference observed (p = 0.030) (Table 2 ). While 68.1% of participants stated that their hospital had a disaster plan, only 16.3% reported that they “definitely knew” how to act during a disaster. Full competency in equipment use was found in only 22.2% of participants. The proportion of participants who had previously received disaster training was 51.7%, whereas 28.1% reported never having received such training. A significant difference was observed between professional groups and knowledge levels regarding roles in disasters (p = 0.003). Similarly, professional group was significantly associated with disaster roles, reasons for volunteering, and competency in using disaster equipment (p 0.05). A total of 56.9% of participants expressed a desire to receive psychological support following a disaster. Overall, the findings suggest that nurses demonstrated higher readiness in disaster preparedness, equipment use, and volunteering, whereas physicians were more likely to base their willingness to volunteer on professional responsibility but appeared more reluctant in practical implementation. Discussion Our study was conducted to evaluate the preparedness, knowledge levels, and psychosocial awareness of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units and operating theaters regarding disaster situations. The findings revealed significant differences among professional groups in terms of knowledge about roles and responsibilities during disasters, competence in the use of equipment, and motivation for volunteering. In our study, the proportion of nurses who reported knowing how to act during a disaster (68.4%) was significantly higher than that of physicians (50.9%) (p < 0.001). Similarly, 50.2% of nurses stated that they knew their role in disaster situations, whereas this rate was 31.4% among physicians (p = 0.003). These findings suggest that nurses are more aware of and better prepared for disaster scenarios. As also indicated in the literature, the fact that disaster training programs are often planned with a nurse-centered approach and that practical implementations largely involve nurses may explain this difference ( 3 , 5 ). In particular, nurses who participate more frequently in hands-on training and drills have developed greater knowledge and skills related to disaster response ( 8 ). Nurses were also found to be more competent in equipment use (40.5%) compared to physicians (15.7%) (p = 0.043). This finding may be attributed to the fact that nurses are more frequently exposed to the use of devices and medical supplies in clinical practice. When examining the reasons for volunteering, 56.8% of physicians prioritized professional responsibility, whereas 63.3% of nurses emphasized the desire for humanitarian aid. This difference indicates that motivations for volunteering vary across professional groups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.032). Conversely, the proportion of those unwilling to volunteer was higher among physicians compared to nurses (27.4% vs. 13.5%; p = 0.014). This may be due to physicians’ heavy workload, unclear job descriptions, or uncertainty regarding their role during a disaster. Previous studies have shown that ambiguity in task definition during disaster situations may negatively influence the willingness of healthcare personnel to volunteer ( 9 ). Although 68.1% of the participants reported that their hospitals had an emergency disaster plan (HAP), only 16.3% stated that they “definitely knew” what to do during a disaster. This finding indicates that the mere existence of an HAP does not necessarily translate into knowledge and that deficiencies in practical implementation persist. Previous studies conducted in Türkiye have also demonstrated that inadequate awareness of disaster plans among healthcare personnel negatively affects disaster response capacity ( 8 , 10 ). The participation rate in disaster drills was found to be only 37.5%. Participants with prior drill experience were observed to have greater self-confidence regarding disaster management. This result highlights that drills constitute a critical tool in disaster preparedness. The guidelines provided by the ICN and WHO within the framework of disaster nursing also emphasize that practical disaster training should be continuous and profession-specific ( 11 , 12 ). Finally, 56.9% of the participants stated that they would like to receive psychological support after a disaster. This finding indicates that disasters pose not only physical but also psychological burdens, representing a significant threat to healthcare workers. The inadequacy of psychosocial support systems is an important factor that may negatively affect the functionality of healthcare personnel in the aftermath of disasters. Conclusion The definitions of disaster and general awareness levels of intensive care and operating room personnel were found to be adequate. Nurses appeared to be better prepared in terms of knowing their responsibilities during a disaster, competence in equipment use, familiarity with action plans, and willingness to volunteer. Although physicians associated volunteering primarily with professional responsibility, they tended to be more reluctant in practice. This indicates the presence of practical deficiencies in disaster management. Therefore, disaster drills and training should be increased, with regular programs focusing on task distribution, team coordination, and equipment utilization, while also strengthening the availability of psychosocial support services. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate: Approved by the University of Health Sciences, Trabzon Faculty of Medicine Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/186, Date: 04 March 2025). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Our study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association and the Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Availability of data and materials: Available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Funding: No external funding was received. Acknowledgments: The authors thank all healthcare professionals who participated in this study. References Babaie, J., Ardalan, A., Vatandoost, H., Goya, M. M., & Akbarisari, A. (2015). Performance assessment of communicable disease surveillance in disasters: a systematic review. PLOS Currents Disasters Singhal, Y. K., Bhatnagar, R., Lal, B., & Paliwal, B. (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical internship students regarding disaster preparedness at a tertiary-care hospital of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, 5(8), 1613-1616 Labrague, L. J., Yboa, B. C., McEnroe–Petitte, D. M., Lobrino, L. R., & Brennan, M. G. B. (2016). Disaster preparedness in Philippine nurses. Journal of nursing scholarship, 48(1), 98-105 Jakeway, C. C., LaRosa, G., Cary, A., & Schoenfisch, S. (2008). The role of public health nurses in emergency preparedness and response: A position paper of the association of state and territorial directors of nursing. Public Health Nursing, 25(4), 353-361. Baack, S., & Alfred, D. (2013). Nurses’ preparedness and perceived competence in managing disasters. Journal of nursing scholarship, 45(3), 281-287. Yıldırım, G., & Kılıç, A. (2018). Hemşirelerin afetlere hazırlık durumunun incelenmesi [Examination of nurses’ preparedness for disasters]. Journal of Education and Research in Nursing , 15(2), 108–115. Gürsoy, B., Of, N., Cengiz, S., Öztürk, S., & Gürsoy, Z. (2024). Sağlık Personellerinin Afetlere Hazırlık Algılarının Belirlenmesi [Determination of healthcare personnel’s perceptions of disaster preparedness]. International Social Sciences Studies Journal , 10(12), 2253–2263. Erkin Ö, Aslan G, Öztürk M, Çam B, Ödek Ş. Nurses' General Disaster Preparedness Status and Affecting Factors. Forbes J Med 2023;4(3):305-14 Taskiran, G. & Baykal, T. U. (2017). Nurses’ preparedness for disasters in Turkey: Literature review. New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences. 4(2), pp 41-50 Vatan, F., & Salur, D. (2010). Yönetici hemşirelerin hastanelerdeki deprem afet planları konusundaki görüşlerinin incelenmesi [The opinions of nurse managers regarding earthquake disaster plans in hospitals]. Maltepe University Journal of Nursing Science and Art , 3(1), 32–44. ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies, 2009 WHO Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams,2017 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupplementaryMaterialDisasterQuestionnaire.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 14 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in BMC Emergency Medicine → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 08 Dec, 2025 Reviews received at journal 23 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 20 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Nov, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Nov, 2025 Editor invited by journal 11 Nov, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 06 Nov, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 06 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 04 Nov, 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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They may arise from natural, human-induced, or technological causes (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffective disaster management is of critical importance, as the disaster and emergency management process is defined to assist vulnerable populations, support post-disaster rehabilitation, and ensure the prompt return of affected individuals to normal life (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn disaster management, the role of healthcare professionals encompasses not only patient care and medical interventions but also pre-disaster planning, resource management, patient evacuation, coordination, personal safety, and post-disaster rehabilitation (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeing prepared for disasters is of great importance in minimizing their potentially devastating impacts (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Preparedness refers to equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable a rapid and effective response during a disaster (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the literature, it has been demonstrated that disaster awareness and preparedness levels determine the capacity of healthcare professionals to respond effectively to disasters (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e). Other studies conducted in T\u0026uuml;rkiye have shown that healthcare personnel particularly exhibit deficiencies in areas such as practical disaster training, equipment utilization, and task distribution (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to evaluate the knowledge levels, volunteering tendencies, and psychological awareness of intensive care and operating room personnel regarding disaster situations, and to contribute to disaster management strategies based on the findings obtained.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStudy design and setting\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 at a tertiary training and research hospital in Trabzon, T\u0026uuml;rkiye, to evaluate disaster preparedness and awareness among ICU and OR personnel.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSampling and participants\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study population included physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals working in ICUs and ORs. A total of 288 participants were recruited through institutional invitations and voluntary participation after providing written informed consent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData collection instrument\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData were collected using the Improved Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire (IDPQ), developed and validated by experts. It covered demographics, disaster knowledge, preparedness, volunteerism, and psychosocial factors. Completion time was approximately 10\u0026ndash;15 minutes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eData were analyzed using Jamovi and R Studio software. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the chi-square test was applied to assess group differences. A p-value of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEthical consideration\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e was obtained from the University of Health Sciences, Trabzon Faculty of Medicine Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/186, Date: 04 March 2025). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eAmong the participating healthcare personnel, 68.8% were female, 62.5% were aged 18\u0026ndash;39 years, 82.3% were nurses or other healthcare staff, and 17.7% were physicians. A total of 53.5% worked in intensive care units, while 40.6% were employed in operating rooms (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The sample, being predominantly young, female, and nurse-based, was consistent with the demographic profile of healthcare personnel in T\u0026uuml;rkiye.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDemographic Characteristics of the Study Population\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDemographic Characteristic\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipants (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExplanation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGender (Female)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e68.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority of participants were female.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge Range (18\u0026ndash;39 years)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.5%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMost of the sample consisted of young adults.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eProfessional Distribution \u0026ndash; Nurses/Other HP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e82.3%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority were nurses and other healthcare personnel.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eProfessional Distribution \u0026ndash; Physicians\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysicians represented a smaller proportion of the sample.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorkplace \u0026ndash; Intensive Care Unit\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e53.5%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore than half were employed in intensive care units.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorkplace \u0026ndash; Operating Room\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA significant proportion worked in operating rooms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHP\u003c/b\u003e: \u003cem\u003ehealthcare personnel\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 93.4% of participants correctly defined the concept of disaster, with no significant difference across professional groups (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Regarding disaster experience, 33.3% of physicians (17/51) and 25.7% of nurses (61/237) reported having previously experienced a disaster. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.268).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen asked about knowledge of task distribution during disasters, 74.5% of physicians and 66.7% of nurses stated that they could obtain this information from the \u0026ldquo;disaster plan,\u0026rdquo; a difference close to statistical significance (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.066). Overall, 89.9% of participants correctly identified \u0026ldquo;ensuring the safety of current patients\u0026rdquo; as the primary responsibility in their unit during a disaster (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.189).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHalf of the nurses (50.2%) reported knowing their role in a disaster, compared to 31.4% of physicians, with a significant difference between the groups (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003). Equipment use competency was 40.5% among nurses and 15.7% among physicians, also showing a significant difference (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.043). In response to the question \u0026ldquo;Do you know how to act in a disaster?\u0026rdquo;, 68.4% of nurses answered \u0026ldquo;I know/partially know,\u0026rdquo; compared to 50.9% of physicians (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), suggesting that nurses demonstrated greater confidence in practical preparedness and action (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStatistically Significant Differences Between Physicians and Other Healthcare Personnel (Nurses)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysicians (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Healthcare Personnel (Nurses) (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStated knowing their role in disasters\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompetency in equipment use\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnowing how to act during a disaster\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e68.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReason for volunteering: Professional responsibility\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e56.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReason for volunteering: Desire to help people\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.032\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot willing to volunteer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFamiliarity with disaster communication systems\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLower\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigher\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExperience with equipment in disaster drills\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLower\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigher\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.047\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegarding motivations for volunteering in disasters, 56.8% of physicians and 34.2% of nurses cited \u0026ldquo;professional responsibility,\u0026rdquo; whereas 63.3% of nurses and 47.1% of physicians prioritized \u0026ldquo;the desire to help people.\u0026rdquo; These differences were statistically significant (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.002 and p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.032, respectively). The response \u0026ldquo;I do not want to volunteer\u0026rdquo; was higher among physicians (27.4%) compared to nurses (13.5%), also reaching statistical significance (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.014) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipation in disaster drills was found to be 37.5%. Physicians reported lower levels of experience in equipment and material management compared to nurses (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.047). Nurses also demonstrated higher levels of familiarity with disaster communication systems, with a significant difference observed (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.030) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile 68.1% of participants stated that their hospital had a disaster plan, only 16.3% reported that they \u0026ldquo;definitely knew\u0026rdquo; how to act during a disaster. Full competency in equipment use was found in only 22.2% of participants. The proportion of participants who had previously received disaster training was 51.7%, whereas 28.1% reported never having received such training.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA significant difference was observed between professional groups and knowledge levels regarding roles in disasters (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003). Similarly, professional group was significantly associated with disaster roles, reasons for volunteering, and competency in using disaster equipment (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). On the other hand, willingness to assume responsibilities during disasters did not significantly differ by professional group (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 56.9% of participants expressed a desire to receive psychological support following a disaster. Overall, the findings suggest that nurses demonstrated higher readiness in disaster preparedness, equipment use, and volunteering, whereas physicians were more likely to base their willingness to volunteer on professional responsibility but appeared more reluctant in practical implementation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eOur study was conducted to evaluate the preparedness, knowledge levels, and psychosocial awareness of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units and operating theaters regarding disaster situations. The findings revealed significant differences among professional groups in terms of knowledge about roles and responsibilities during disasters, competence in the use of equipment, and motivation for volunteering.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn our study, the proportion of nurses who reported knowing how to act during a disaster (68.4%) was significantly higher than that of physicians (50.9%) (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Similarly, 50.2% of nurses stated that they knew their role in disaster situations, whereas this rate was 31.4% among physicians (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003). These findings suggest that nurses are more aware of and better prepared for disaster scenarios. As also indicated in the literature, the fact that disaster training programs are often planned with a nurse-centered approach and that practical implementations largely involve nurses may explain this difference (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). In particular, nurses who participate more frequently in hands-on training and drills have developed greater knowledge and skills related to disaster response (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNurses were also found to be more competent in equipment use (40.5%) compared to physicians (15.7%) (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.043). This finding may be attributed to the fact that nurses are more frequently exposed to the use of devices and medical supplies in clinical practice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen examining the reasons for volunteering, 56.8% of physicians prioritized professional responsibility, whereas 63.3% of nurses emphasized the desire for humanitarian aid. This difference indicates that motivations for volunteering vary across professional groups (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.002 and p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.032). Conversely, the proportion of those unwilling to volunteer was higher among physicians compared to nurses (27.4% vs. 13.5%; p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.014). This may be due to physicians\u0026rsquo; heavy workload, unclear job descriptions, or uncertainty regarding their role during a disaster. Previous studies have shown that ambiguity in task definition during disaster situations may negatively influence the willingness of healthcare personnel to volunteer (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough 68.1% of the participants reported that their hospitals had an emergency disaster plan (HAP), only 16.3% stated that they \u0026ldquo;definitely knew\u0026rdquo; what to do during a disaster. This finding indicates that the mere existence of an HAP does not necessarily translate into knowledge and that deficiencies in practical implementation persist. Previous studies conducted in T\u0026uuml;rkiye have also demonstrated that inadequate awareness of disaster plans among healthcare personnel negatively affects disaster response capacity (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe participation rate in disaster drills was found to be only 37.5%. Participants with prior drill experience were observed to have greater self-confidence regarding disaster management. This result highlights that drills constitute a critical tool in disaster preparedness. The guidelines provided by the ICN and WHO within the framework of disaster nursing also emphasize that practical disaster training should be continuous and profession-specific (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally, 56.9% of the participants stated that they would like to receive psychological support after a disaster. This finding indicates that disasters pose not only physical but also psychological burdens, representing a significant threat to healthcare workers. The inadequacy of psychosocial support systems is an important factor that may negatively affect the functionality of healthcare personnel in the aftermath of disasters.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe definitions of disaster and general awareness levels of intensive care and operating room personnel were found to be adequate. Nurses appeared to be better prepared in terms of knowing their responsibilities during a disaster, competence in equipment use, familiarity with action plans, and willingness to volunteer. Although physicians associated volunteering primarily with professional responsibility, they tended to be more reluctant in practice. This indicates the presence of practical deficiencies in disaster management. Therefore, disaster drills and training should be increased, with regular programs focusing on task distribution, team coordination, and equipment utilization, while also strengthening the availability of psychosocial support services.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate:\u003c/strong\u003e Approved by the University of Health Sciences, Trabzon Faculty of Medicine Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/186, Date: 04 March 2025). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.\u0026nbsp;Our study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association and the Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication:\u003c/strong\u003e Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials:\u003c/strong\u003e Available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u003c/strong\u003e No external funding was received.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors thank all healthcare professionals who participated in this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBabaie, J., Ardalan, A., Vatandoost, H., Goya, M. M., \u0026amp; Akbarisari, A. (2015). Performance assessment of communicable disease surveillance in disasters: a systematic review. PLOS Currents Disasters \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSinghal, Y. K., Bhatnagar, R., Lal, B., \u0026amp; Paliwal, B. (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical internship students regarding disaster preparedness at a tertiary-care hospital of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health, 5(8), 1613-1616\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLabrague, L. J., Yboa, B. C., McEnroe\u0026ndash;Petitte, D. M., Lobrino, L. R., \u0026amp; Brennan, M. G. B. (2016). Disaster preparedness in Philippine nurses. Journal of nursing scholarship, 48(1), 98-105\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJakeway, C. C., LaRosa, G., Cary, A., \u0026amp; Schoenfisch, S. (2008). The role of public health nurses in emergency preparedness and response: A position paper of the association of state and territorial directors of nursing. Public Health Nursing, 25(4), 353-361.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBaack, S., \u0026amp; Alfred, D. (2013). Nurses\u0026rsquo; preparedness and perceived competence in managing disasters. Journal of nursing scholarship, 45(3), 281-287.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYıldırım, G., \u0026amp; Kılı\u0026ccedil;, A. (2018). Hemşirelerin afetlere hazırlık durumunun incelenmesi [Examination of nurses\u0026rsquo; preparedness for disasters]. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Education and Research in Nursing\u003c/em\u003e, 15(2), 108\u0026ndash;115.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eG\u0026uuml;rsoy, B., Of, N., Cengiz, S., \u0026Ouml;zt\u0026uuml;rk, S., \u0026amp; G\u0026uuml;rsoy, Z. (2024). Sağlık Personellerinin Afetlere Hazırlık Algılarının Belirlenmesi [Determination of healthcare personnel\u0026rsquo;s perceptions of disaster preparedness]. \u003cem\u003eInternational Social Sciences Studies Journal\u003c/em\u003e, 10(12), 2253\u0026ndash;2263.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErkin \u0026Ouml;, Aslan G, \u0026Ouml;zt\u0026uuml;rk M, \u0026Ccedil;am B, \u0026Ouml;dek Ş. Nurses\u0026apos; General Disaster Preparedness Status and Affecting Factors. Forbes J Med 2023;4(3):305-14\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaskiran, G. \u0026amp; Baykal, T. U. (2017). Nurses\u0026rsquo; preparedness for disasters in Turkey: Literature review. New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences. 4(2), pp 41-50\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVatan, F., \u0026amp; Salur, D. (2010). Y\u0026ouml;netici hemşirelerin hastanelerdeki deprem afet planları konusundaki g\u0026ouml;r\u0026uuml;şlerinin incelenmesi [The opinions of nurse managers regarding earthquake disaster plans in hospitals]. \u003cem\u003eMaltepe University Journal of Nursing Science and Art\u003c/em\u003e, 3(1), 32\u0026ndash;44.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies, 2009\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWHO Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams,2017\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-emergency-medicine","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"emmd","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Emergency Medicine](http://bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/emmd","title":"BMC Emergency Medicine","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Disaster preparedness, intensive care, operating room, healthcare professionals, disaster management, volunteering","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8030269/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8030269/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was conducted to evaluate the preparedness, knowledge level, and psychosocial awareness of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units and operating rooms regarding disaster situations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis descriptive and cross-sectional study included 288 healthcare professionals working in a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using the “Improved Disaster Preparedness Questionnaire” and analyzed with \u003cem\u003eJamovi\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eR Studio\u003c/em\u003e software. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were employed for data analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants demonstrated high levels of awareness regarding the definition of disasters and disaster plans (93.4% and 68.1%, respectively). However, deficiencies were identified in knowledge of their specific roles during disasters, participation in drills, and the use of equipment. Statistically significant differences were observed between professional groups and their disaster roles, reasons for volunteering, and competencies in using disaster equipment (p \u0026lt; 0.05). The demand for psychological support was high (56.9%), and willingness to volunteer during disasters was also notable (57.3%).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough intensive care unit and operating room personnel demonstrated a basic level of awareness regarding disaster situations, improvements are needed in terms of practical action and implementation. Increasing the frequency of training sessions and drills, as well as incorporating more disaster scenarios, is recommended.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Preparedness and Awareness Levels of Intensive Care and Operating Room Personnel for Disaster Situations: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Tertiary Hospital","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-28 07:08:27","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8030269/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-12-08T05:41:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-23T10:55:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"143223225465554252832680166214922821777","date":"2025-11-23T04:55:40+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"107277994382534225169089995026117913929","date":"2025-11-21T07:20:03+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-20T14:25:12+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"57983768204230014062765496575030103546","date":"2025-11-19T09:52:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"86339625620632559529836151573016243533","date":"2025-11-19T08:38:27+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-11-19T08:00:28+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-11-11T05:24:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-11-06T10:10:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-11-06T10:08:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Emergency Medicine","date":"2025-11-04T14:56:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-emergency-medicine","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"emmd","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Emergency Medicine](http://bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/emmd","title":"BMC Emergency Medicine","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5950a6b7-7812-4b84-ae74-38504ee58b3b","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 28th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-19T16:44:52+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-8030269","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-026-01478-y","journal":{"identity":"bmc-emergency-medicine","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Emergency Medicine"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-14 16:28:56","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 14th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-28 07:08:27","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12873-026-01478-y","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-026-01478-y","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8030269","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8030269","identity":"rs-8030269","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}