Perceived Disaster Preparedness, Knowledge, and Skills Among Sudanese Healthcare Professionals During the Armed Conflict: Cross-Sectional Study, 2024

Perceived Disaster Preparedness, Knowledge, and Skills Among Sudanese Healthcare Professionals During the Armed Conflict: Cross-Sectional Study, 2024 | 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 Perceived Disaster Preparedness, Knowledge, and Skills Among Sudanese Healthcare Professionals During the Armed Conflict: Cross-Sectional Study, 2024 Fatima A. Ayyad, Roaa Abdalsalam, Eltayeb Abdalla, Salih B. Hamza, and 16 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5710388/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 May, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Emergency Medicine → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Disaster preparedness is a critical component of healthcare, especially in regions prone to crisis. Sudan has faced significant challenges, including armed conflict, the displacement of millions, and outbreaks of diseases such as COVID-19, acute watery diarrhoea, and dengue fever. This study evaluated the perceived preparedness, knowledge, and skills of Sudanese healthcare professionals (HCPs) in disaster management. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,505 HCPs via an online self-administered questionnaire. The classical Arabic version of the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET) was utilised. The data were analysed via SPSS v28, with univariate and multivariate analyses performed to identify predictors of disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills. Results Participants perceived themselves as moderately prepared (mean 4.15 ± 1.1), knowledgeable (mean 4.01 ± 1.1), and skilled (mean 3.72 ± 1.3) in disaster management. Nurses reported higher knowledge scores than physicians, whereas male participants and those with prior disaster exposure presented higher levels of perceived preparedness, knowledge, and skills (p < 0.001). Previous experience in disaster management was a significant predictor of disaster management competency (p < 0.001). Despite moderate perceptions overall, gaps were identified in specific areas, such as familiarity with local emergency systems and disaster triage. Conclusion Sudanese HCPs face notable gaps in disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills, exacerbated by limited training and practical experience. Addressing these deficiencies through targeted education, disaster drills, and integrating disaster medicine into curricula is imperative to build a resilient healthcare workforce capable of managing crises effectively. Disaster management healthcare professionals disaster preparedness Sudan disaster training Introduction Disasters, whether natural or human-made, lead to significant loss of life and property, and their impact varies by region, culture, and resources [ 1 ]. Sudan has faced repeated crises in recent decades, from political upheavals to epidemics and floods. Recently, violence between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces caused the greatest internal displacement globally, with 9.05 million internally displaced people and 1.47 million fleeing as refugees [ 2 ]. Additionally, attacks on health personnel and facilities present heightened risks for epidemics of cholera, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases [ 3 ]. Among these challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgent need for strengthened disaster preparedness worldwide [ 4 ]. A new integrated disaster management (DM) framework has emerged to safeguard healthcare during crises [ 5 ]. The World Health Organization's Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) Framework (2019) emphasises the vital role of health systems in DM, drawing on earlier global agreements such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 [ 6 ], the Paris Agreement on Climate Change [ 7 ], the International Health Regulations [ 8 ], and the Sustainable Development Goals 2015–2030 [ 9 ]. This approach highlights comprehensive resource coordination, preparedness, and the key responsibilities of primary health care (PHC) services in disaster response [ 10 ]. Because hospitals are central to delivering life-saving care after catastrophes, health providers must remain equipped to manage unforeseen crises [ 1 ]. Disaster preparedness encompasses all proactive actions taken prior to an event to ensure an organised response [ 11 ]. Given the frequency and severity of disasters, many institutions, including hospitals, have introduced preparedness and response plans [ 12 , 13 ]. However, training gaps have been reported in similar contexts with low, particularly in low-income countries [ 14 – 17 ]. Formal disaster management education in Sudan has been limited; undergraduate medical curricula traditionally focus on clinical training rather than disaster medicine. However, recent emphasis by the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Care Agency has begun to address this gap through specialised training programs. Despite the frequent disasters in Sudan, data on healthcare preparedness in the region remain scarce. PHCs appear integral to DM, but little research has explored their real-world preparedness. Moreover, Sudanese health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and training for disaster response have not been thoroughly examined. Consequently, this study aims to assess Sudanese health professionals' perception of disaster medicine proficiency and identify gaps to improve readiness. Materials and methods 2.1. Study Design, Settings, and Participants This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design conducted entirely online among doctors, nurses, and medical assistants working in various healthcare facilities in Sudan (governmental, military, and teaching). The methodology aligns with the STROBE Statement [ 18 ]. Data were collected via the classical Arabic version of the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET), which was previously validated [ 19 ]. A Google Forms survey link was created, allowing participants to complete the questionnaire upon providing informed consent. A minimum sample size of 384 healthcare professionals was determined using Cochran’s formula for an unknown population, assuming a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval. In this formula, n = Z 2 ⋅p⋅(1 − p)/d 2 ​, where n = 384, Z = 1.96 (corresponding to a 95% confidence level), p = 0.5 (assumed prevalence for maximum variability), and d = 0.05 (margin of error). The questionnaire was divided into three subscales. The first subscale assessed knowledge, skills, and individual preparedness (25 items; response range 1–6, from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree"); the second subscale measured disaster response during the mitigation phase (14 items; 1–6 Likert scale); and the third focused on postdisaster recovery (6 items; 1–6 Likert scale). The reported Cronbach's alpha coefficients for preparation, knowledge, and skills were 0.95, 0.87, and 0.92, respectively. The original cut-off positions were retained [ 19 ]. Thus, mean values of 1–2.99 suggest low preparedness, 3–4.99 indicate moderate preparedness, and 5–6 denote high preparedness. Additional open-ended questions captured qualitative data. The demographic information collected included age, sex, marital status, education level, job position, years of experience, hospital type, weekly work hours, and prior disaster exposure. 2.2. Data collection process Study participants were recruited primarily via frequently used social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram). Before completing the questionnaire, individuals were asked to provide electronic informed consent; they were then encouraged to share the survey link with professional colleagues to bolster participant numbers. The participants were required to sign in with a Google account to access the survey form, ensuring the uniqueness of the responses. A pilot test of 20 participants confirmed the clarity and comprehensibility of the instrument before its widespread distribution. Prior to data collection, the participants were given detailed information about the study's objectives and the approximate time needed to complete the survey. They were also informed that participation was voluntary and that all the responses would remain anonymous and confidential. To maintain an optimal response rate, the collaborator team sent periodic reminders. 2.3. Data analysis All the data were entered and analysed via SPSS (version 28). Descriptive statistics for categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables are summarised using means and standard deviations. Pearson correlation and ANOVA were used for univariate analysis, and multivariate linear regression was employed to further investigate associations between independent variables and participants' knowledge, skills, and preparedness. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results were presented via narrative descriptions and tabular formats. Results Demographic Characteristics of Healthcare Providers The study included 1,505 healthcare providers with a mean age of 28.5 years (± 1) (Table 1 ). The female participants accounted for 61.1% of the sample, whereas the male participants accounted for 38.9%. Most participants were single (81.4%), with only 18.6% married. Most participants held a bachelor's degree (80.3%), followed by a master's degree (10.4%), a PhD (6.2%), and a diploma (1.1%). Table 1 Demographic characteristics of healthcare providers (n = 1505). Character Category Count (%)/ Mean ± SD Age 28.5 ± 1 Gender Male 586 (38.9%) Female 919 (61.1%) Marital Status Single 1225 (81.4%) Married 280 (18.6%) Education Diploma 16 (1.1%) Bachelor 1208 (80.3%) Master 156 (10.4%) PhD 93 (6.2%) Other 32 (2.2%) Position Consultant 23 (1.5%) Specialist 82 (5.4%) Registrar 258 (17.1%) Medical officer 686 (45.6%) House officer 172 (11.4%) Prehouse officer 126 (8.4%) Nurse 142 (9.4%) Medical assistant 16 (1.1%) Hospital Governmental 814 (54.1%) University 127 (8.4%) Military 162 (10.8%) Private 402 (26.7%) Experience Less than 1 year 484 (32.2%) 1–3 years 640 (42.5%) 3–5 years 170 (11.3%) 5–7 years 76 (5%) More than 7 years 135 (9%) Working hours (week) 41.6 ± 21 Previous exposure to Disaster No 1079 (71.7%) Yes 426 (28.3%) For professional roles, medical officers made up the largest group (45.6%), followed by registrars (17.1%), house officers (11.4%), and nurses (9.4%). Consultants and specialists represented 1.5% and 5.4% of the participants. Healthcare providers primarily worked in governmental hospitals (54.1%), with others distributed across private (26.7%), military (10.8%), and university hospitals (8.4%). Experience levels varied, with 42.5% reporting 1–3 years of experience, 32.2% having less than one year, and only 9% with more than seven years of experience. Weekly working hours averaged 41.6 hours (± 21), and prior exposure to disaster situations was reported by 28.3% of the participants (Table 1 ). Healthcare Providers' Perception of Knowledge of Disaster Management Table 2 summarizes healthcare providers’ self-reported knowledge of disaster management. The mean knowledge score is 4.01 (SD = 1.10), suggesting moderately high self-perceived awareness and understanding. Among individual items, the highest mean (4.72 ± 1.39) appears for willingness to attend disaster preparedness classes tailored to the local community (Item 7), indicating a strong interest in targeted education. In contrast, the lowest mean (3.30 ± 1.68) is the perception that sufficient support from local officials exists during a disaster (Item 14), implying uncertainty or dissatisfaction with official support. The interquartile range shows that most participants rate their knowledge-related statements around 3 to 5 on the Likert scale. Table 2 Healthcare providers' perceptions of their knowledge of disaster management (n = 1505). Item Mean ± SD 25th 50th 75th 1. I participate in disaster drills or exercises at my workplace on a regular basis. 4.34 ± 1.65 3.00 5.00 6.00 2. I have participated in emergency plan drafting and planning for disaster situations in my community. 3.99 ± 1.67 2.00 4.00 5.00 3. I know who to contact (chain of command) in disaster situations in my community. 4.14 ± 1.64 3.00 5.00 5.00 4. I participate in continuing education classes, seminars, or conferences dealing with disaster preparedness. 3.95 ± 1.68 2.00 4.00 5.00 5. I read journal articles related to disaster preparedness. 3.88 ± 1.63 2.00 4.00 5.00 6. I am aware of classes about disaster preparedness and management offered at my workplace, university, or community. 4.07 ± 1.60 3.00 4.00 5.00 7. I would be interested in educational classes on disaster preparedness that relate specifically to my community. 4.72 ± 1.39 4.00 5.00 6.00 8. I find that the research literature on disaster preparedness and management is easily accessible. 3.90 ± 1.48 3.00 4.00 5.00 9. I find that the research literature on disaster preparedness is understandable. 4.16 ± 1.40 3.00 4.00 5.00 11. Finding relevant information about disaster preparedness is an obstacle to my level of preparedness. 4.11 ± 1.45 3.00 4.00 5.00 12. I know where to find relevant research or information to fill in gaps in my knowledge. 3.91 ± 1.50 3.00 4.00 5.00 13. I have a list of contacts in the medical/health community (e.g., referral contacts) in case of a disaster. 3.70 ± 1.67 2.00 4.00 5.00 14. I think there is sufficient support from local officials in a disaster situation. 3.30 ± 1.68 2.00 3.00 5.00 Overall disaster management knowledge 4.01 ± 1.10 — — — Healthcare Providers' Perception of Skills in Disaster Management Table 3 presents participants’ perceptions of their disaster management skills. The overall mean score here is 3.72 (SD = 1.30). The highest mean (4.07 ± 1.49) relates to awareness of potential vulnerabilities in the community (Item 17), suggesting a strong sense of local risk identification. Conversely, one of the lowest mean scores (3.30 ± 1.68) pertains to creating or lobbying for new guidelines and emergency plans (Item 15), indicating that fewer participants actively engage in policy-level interventions. The percentiles reveal that most respondents rate themselves around a 3 or 4 in skill-based activities. Table 3 Healthcare providers' perceptions of their disaster management skills (n = 1505). Item Mean ± SD 25th 50th 75th 10. I consider myself prepared for the management of disasters. 3.74 ± 1.57 3.00 4.00 5.00 15. I participate/have participated in creating new guidelines, emergency plans, or lobbying for improvements on the local/national level. 3.30 ± 1.68 2.00 3.00 5.00 16. I would be considered a key leadership figure in my community in a disaster situation. 3.77 ± 1.61 3.00 4.00 5.00 17. I am aware of the potential vulnerabilities in my community (e.g., earthquakes, floods, terror). 4.07 ± 1.49 3.00 4.00 5.00 19. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to use personal protective equipment. 3.84 ± 1.62 3.00 4.00 5.00 20. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to execute decontamination procedures. 3.61 ± 1.62 2.00 4.00 5.00 21. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to perform isolation procedures to minimise community exposure. 3.79 ± 1.61 3.00 4.00 5.00 22. I am familiar with the local emergency response system for disasters. 3.51 ± 1.62 2.00 4.00 5.00 23. I am familiar with accepted triage principles used in disaster situations. 3.82 ± 1.62 3.00 4.00 5.00 24. I have personal/family emergency plans in place for disaster situations. 3.70 ± 1.62 2.00 4.00 5.00 25. I have an arrangement with loved ones on how to execute our personal/family emergency plans. 3.80 ± 1.66 2.00 4.00 5.00 Overall disaster management skills 3.72 ± 1.30 — — — Healthcare Providers' Perception of Preparedness for Disaster Management Table 4 focuses on participants’ self-perceived preparedness for disaster response and management. The aggregate preparedness score is 4.15 (SD = 1.10), suggesting that, on average, respondents feel relatively prepared. Several items stand out for their high means: knowing the limits of one’s professional scope (Item 18, 4.52 ± 1.41) and identifying clusters of similar symptoms in mass-exposure scenarios (Item 26, 4.58 ± 1.29). However, familiarity with organizational logistics across local, state, and federal agencies (Item 37, 3.67 ± 1.58) shows a lower mean. Overall, the interquartile ranges hover between 3 and 5, reinforcing that most participants have at least moderate confidence in disaster preparedness. Table 4 Healthcare providers' perceptions of their preparedness for disaster management (n = 1505). Item Mean ± SD 25th 50th 75th 18. I know the limits of my knowledge, skills, and authority, and when I exceed them in disaster situations. 4.52 ± 1.41 4.00 5.00 6.00 26. I can identify indicators of mass exposure by clustering of patients with similar symptoms. 4.58 ± 1.29 4.00 5.00 6.00 27. I can manage common symptoms/reactions of disaster survivors (affective, behavioral, cognitive, physical). 4.29 ± 1.35 4.00 5.00 5.00 28. I am familiar with psychological interventions, behavioral therapy, support groups, and debriefing for those who experience trauma. 4.11 ± 1.45 3.00 4.00 5.00 29. I can describe my role in the response phase of a disaster (workplace, public, media, personal contacts). 4.25 ± 1.42 3.00 5.00 5.00 30. I am familiar with the main groups (A, B, C) of biological weapons (e.g., anthrax, plague, botulism) and their signs, symptoms, and effective treatments. 3.75 ± 1.57 3.00 4.00 5.00 31. I feel confident discerning deviations in health assessments indicating potential exposure to biological agents. 3.83 ± 1.51 3.00 4.00 5.00 32. I feel confident in my abilities as a direct care provider and first responder in disaster situations. 4.35 ± 1.44 4.00 5.00 5.00 33. I would feel confident as a manager or coordinator of a shelter. 4.16 ± 1.50 3.00 4.00 5.00 34. I would feel reasonably confident as a member of a decontamination team. 4.41 ± 1.42 4.00 5.00 6.00 35. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to perform a focused health history and assessment for the relevant bioagents. 4.12 ± 1.47 3.00 4.00 5.00 36. I feel reasonably confident treating patients independently without supervision in a disaster situation. 4.20 ± 1.48 3.00 5.00 5.00 37. I am familiar with the logistics and roles among local, state, and federal agencies in disaster response. 3.67 ± 1.58 2.00 4.00 5.00 38. I feel confident implementing emergency plans, evacuation procedures, and similar functions. 4.12 ± 1.50 3.00 4.00 5.00 39. I feel confident providing patient education on stress and abnormal functioning related to trauma. 4.45 ± 1.46 4.00 5.00 6.00 40. I feel confident providing education on coping skills and training for patients who experience traumatic situations. 4.19 ± 1.48 3.00 4.00 5.00 41. I can discern signs and symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). 4.34 ± 1.39 4.00 5.00 5.00 42. I am familiar with the scope of my role as a doctor/nurse practitioner in a postdisaster situation. 4.29 ± 1.43 3.00 5.00 5.00 43. I participate in peer evaluation of skills on disaster preparedness and response. 3.80 ± 1.55 3.00 4.00 5.00 44. I am familiar with how to perform a focused health assessment for PTSD. 3.87 ± 1.50 3.00 4.00 5.00 45. I feel confident managing emotional outcomes (e.g., ASD, PTSD) in a multidisciplinary way (referrals, follow-ups) postdisaster. 3.89 ± 1.53 3.00 4.00 5.00 Overall disaster preparedness 4.15 ± 1.10 — — — Univariate Analysis of Knowledge, Skills, and Preparedness Univariate analysis revealed several significant associations between participant characteristics and disaster management domains (Table 5 ): Table 5 Univariate analysis of knowledge, skills, and preparedness by demographic characteristics (n = 1505). Character Category Knowledge Skills Preparedness Mean± SD p value Mean± SD p value Mean± SD p value Age 0.08 0.001 0.08 0.001 0.07 0.001 Gender Male 4.14 ± 1.1 0.001 3.90 ± 1.3 0.001 4.27 ± 1.1 0.001 Female 3.93 ± 1.1 3.60 ± 1.2 4.01 ± 1.1 Marital Status Single 3.99 ± 1.1 0.256 3.72 ± 1.3 0.972 4.15 ± 1.1 0.797 Married 4.08 ± 1.1 3.72 ± 1.3 4.13 ± 1.1 Education Diploma 3.97 ± 1.1 0.001 3.80 ± 1.2 0.001 4.11 ± 1.3 0.002 Bachelor 3.98 ± 1.1 3.68 ± 1.3 4.13 ± 1.1 Master 4.33 ± 1.1 4.07 ± 1.3 4.39 ± 1 PhD 4.01 ± 1.2 3.75 ± 1.3 4.18 ± 1.1 Other 3.38 ± 1.4 3.12 ± 1.4 3.56 ± 1.2 Position Consultant 4.33 ± 1.2 < 0.001 4.13 ± 1.4 < 0.001 4.43 ± 1.2 < 0.001 Specialist 4.10 ± 1.2 3.86 ± 1.4 4.29 ± 1.1 Registrar 4.14 ± 1.2 3.86 ± 1.3 4.28 ± 1.1 Medical officer 3.94 ± 1 3.64 ± 1.2 4.08 ± 1 House officer 3.80 ± 1.2 3.32 ± 1.4 3.90 ± 1.2 Pre-H O 3.90 ± 1.2 3.63 ± 1.3 4.01 ± 1.2 Nurse 4.40 ± 1 4.32 ± 1.1 4.61 ± 0.9 M. Assistant 3.80 ± 1.1 3.39 ± 1.3 3.75 ± 1.5 Hospital Governmental 4.01 ± 1.1 0.402 3.70 ± 1.3 0.532 4.16 ± 1.1 0.837 University 3.92 ± 1.1 3.63 ± 1.3 4.12 ± 1 Military 3.94 ± 1.1 3.72 ± 1.3 4.22 ± 1 Private 4.08 ± 1.1 3.80 ± 1.3 4.13 ± 1.2 Experience < 1 year 3.72 ± 1.2 < 0.001 3.33 ± 1.3 < 0.001 3.82 ± 1.2 7 years 4.37 ± 1.2 4.10 ± 1.3 4.47 ± 1.2 Working hrs/week 0.11 < 0.001 0.11 < 0.001 0.12 < 0.001 Previous exposure to disaster No 3.86 ± 1.1 < 0.001 3.54 ± 1.3 < 0.001 3.99 ± 1.1 < 0.001 Yes 4.39 ± 1 4.18 ± 1.1 4.57 ± 0.9 Age : Older participants had higher scores in knowledge (r = 0.08, p = 0.001), skills (r = 0.08, p = 0.001), and preparedness (r = 0.07, p = 0.001). Gender : Male participants scored significantly higher than females in knowledge (mean = 4.14 ± 1.1 vs. 3.93 ± 1.1, p = 0.001), skills (3.90 ± 1.3 vs. 3.60 ± 1.2, p = 0.001), and preparedness (4.27 ± 1.1 vs. 4.01 ± 1.1, p = 0.001). Marital Status : No significant differences were observed between single and married participants in any domain ( p > 0.05). Education : Participants with higher educational levels (e.g., Master’s degrees) had significantly higher scores in knowledge, skills, and preparedness ( p < 0.01). Position : Nurses and consultants had the highest scores in knowledge (4.40 ± 1.0 and 4.33 ± 1.2, respectively), skills (4.32 ± 1.1 and 4.13 ± 1.4), and preparedness (4.61 ± 0.9 and 4.43 ± 1.2), while house officers and medical assistants scored lowest across all domains ( p 0.05). Experience : Participants with more than 7 years of experience had the highest scores in knowledge (4.37 ± 1.2), skills (4.10 ± 1.3), and preparedness (4.47 ± 1.2), with significant differences across experience levels ( p < 0.001). Working Hours : Increased weekly working hours were positively associated with higher scores in knowledge (r = 0.11, p < 0.001), skills (r = 0.11, p < 0.001), and preparedness (r = 0.12, p < 0.001). Previous Disaster Exposure : Participants with prior disaster exposure scored significantly higher than those without in knowledge (4.39 ± 1.0 vs. 3.86 ± 1.1), skills (4.18 ± 1.1 vs. 3.54 ± 1.3), and preparedness (4.57 ± 0.9 vs. 3.99 ± 1.1) ( p < 0.001). Multivariate Analysis of Knowledge, Skills, and Preparedness Multivariate linear regression identified several predictors of disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness (Table 6 ): Table 6 Multivariate analysis of predictors of knowledge, skills, and preparedness (n = 1505). Character Knowledge Skills Preparedness Beta p value Beta p value Beta p value Age -0.018 0.661 -0.017 0.662 -0.044 0.273 Gender -0.042 0.113 -0.056 0.033 -0.002 0.397 Marital Status 0.021 0.493 -0.002 0.940 -0.015 0.619 Education -0.039 0.165 -0.031 0.270 -0.048 0.09 Position 0.085 0.004 0.114 < 0.001 0.093 0.002 Experience 0.144 < 0.001 0.172 < 0.001 0.199 < 0.001 Working hrs/week 0.063 0.016 0.065 0.013 0.066 0.012 Previous exposure to disaster 0.180 < 0.001 0.185 < 0.001 0.196 < 0.001 Previous Disaster Exposure was the strongest predictor across all three domains: It was positively associated with knowledge (β = 0.180, p < 0.001), skills (β = 0.185, p < 0.001), and preparedness (β = 0.196, p < 0.001), indicating that participants with prior exposure to disasters had significantly higher scores in all areas after adjusting for other variables. Experience was also a significant positive predictor of knowledge (β = 0.144, p < 0.001), skills (β = 0.172, p < 0.001), and preparedness (β = 0.199, p < 0.001), suggesting that healthcare workers with more years of experience reported greater competence in disaster management. Position was significantly associated with higher scores in knowledge (β = 0.085, p = 0.004), skills (β = 0.114, p < 0.001), and preparedness (β = 0.093, p = 0.002). Working Hours per Week showed a positive association with all three domains: knowledge (β = 0.063, p = 0.016), skills (β = 0.065, p = 0.013), and preparedness (β = 0.066, p = 0.012), indicating that greater involvement in clinical work enhances disaster-related competencies. Healthcare Providers' Perception of Educational Needs for Disaster Management The most commonly reported educational need was understanding the scope of their role and practice in disaster situations (37.8%) (Table 7 ). Other notable needs included identifying community vulnerabilities (19.1%), understanding biological agents and their differential diagnosis and treatment (17.8%), and knowing available resources such as emergency contacts, community shelters, and health department services (18.9%). Educational needs related to recovery phases, such as managing acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were also highlighted (18.9%). Despite these gaps, more than half of the participants (52.8%) reported feeling prepared for disasters (Table 7 ). Table 7 Educational needs for disaster management among healthcare providers (n = 1505). Count (%) My role (my scope of practice, skills) as a doctor/nurse practitioner in a disaster situation. 569 (37.8%) What potential vulnerabilities exist in my community in case of a disaster 288 (19.1%) How to respond and assure health promotion, protection, and disease prevention in the community settings such as clinics or doctors' offices in case of disaster 287 (19.1%) Biological agents and ways to identify their signs and symptoms 268 (17.8%) Biological agents and their differential diagnosis and treatments 268 (17.8%) Resources in my community such as agencies for referral, health departments, emergency contacts, the chain of command, and community shelters 284 (18.9%) Recovery state: acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and crisis intervention (focused assessment, debriefing strategies, and behavioral, cognitive, or medication therapy) 285 (18.9%) I feel prepared for disaster 794 (52.8%) Discussion Key Findings of the Study This cross-sectional survey examined the perceived levels of disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills among 1,505 Sudanese healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the midst of an armed conflict. The overall results revealed moderate preparedness (mean = 4.15), moderate knowledge (mean = 4.01), and slightly lower skills (mean = 3.72). Nurses and consultants scored consistently higher across these domains, while younger providers, such as house officers, reported lower confidence and knowledge. Prior exposure to disaster events emerged as the strongest predictor of high perceived competence in all areas. Nevertheless, critical gaps were identified, including a limited grasp of local emergency systems, insufficient collaboration in disaster planning, and inadequate familiarity with triage protocols. Comparison With Similar African, Arab, and International Contexts These results mirror moderate to low disaster readiness across many African and Middle Eastern settings. In Ethiopia, studies frequently cite poor knowledge, limited participation in drills, and minimal structured training [ 11 , 14 – 16 ]. Similar trends emerge in Namibia [ 17 ], Saudi Arabia [ 1 , 20 , 21 ], the UAE [ 4 ], Qatar [ 22 ], Jordan [ 23 ], and Yemen [ 24 ], where moderate awareness coexists with few formal programs. International research in China [ 25 ], Indonesia [ 26 ], and the United States [ 27 – 29 ] further underscores that theoretical familiarity alone is inadequate without practical preparedness—an issue paralleled in our Sudanese sample. Factors Affecting Variations in Disaster Preparedness Several factors consistently shape the variation in disaster readiness. In this study, prior disaster exposure emerged as the single strongest predictor of higher knowledge, skills, and preparedness scores, which was also observed by Tassew et al. [ 11 ], Nofal et al. [ 1 ], and Berhanu et al. [ 15 ]. Professional role and years of experience further delineated competence levels: nurses and consultants in our sample scored better than peers, mirroring Al Thobaity et al. [ 20 ], who reported superior disaster preparedness among military nurses in Saudi Arabia. Lack of systematic training, however, persists as a major barrier across both low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and wealthier regions. Male participants perceived themselves as more knowledgeable, skilled, and prepared for disasters than females, consistent with previous studies' findings [ 23 , 28 ]. This gender difference may reflect disparities in training opportunities or workplace roles. Although our data did not reveal significant differences by hospital sector, other studies highlight possible variations, for instance, between military and civilian hospitals, attributable to differing resource allocations or institutional priorities [ 20 ]. Recommendations Based on these findings, disaster management should be integrated into medical and nursing curricula to equip healthcare professionals with practical skills such as triage, mass casualty management, and recovery strategies. While some training exists, mainly through the emergency care agency funded by some NGOs, it remains limited in accessibility, particularly across the rural and private sectors. Mandatory disaster drills and role-specific training for doctors, nurses, and medical assistants should be implemented to enhance hands-on preparedness. Training programs must also ensure gender equity by addressing barriers female healthcare workers face. Community-centred programs should focus on local vulnerabilities and available resources, such as referral systems and emergency shelters. To ensure uniform delivery across public, private, and military sectors, a national training framework should be established under the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Council for Civil Defence. Funding could come from government budgets, international donors, and public-private partnerships. Improving access to updated disaster protocols and promoting ongoing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workshops are essential to building a resilient healthcare system. Future research should include diverse healthcare settings and adopt mixed-method approaches to explore gaps and solutions in disaster preparedness. Limitations This study has several limitations. Data collection was conducted online due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which potentially introduced selection bias. The study relied solely on quantitative data, which limits the ability to capture the depth and complexity of participants' perceptions. Future research should involve more representative samples across all Sudanese states and employ mixed-methods approaches to provide richer insights into disaster preparedness and training needs. Conclusion This study highlights critical knowledge, skills, and preparedness gaps among Sudanese healthcare professionals for disaster management. Given the profound impact of disasters, these deficiencies must be urgently addressed. First responders, in particular, need to be equipped to handle emergencies effectively. Specific areas of disaster medicine, such as triage, evacuation, and first aid, should be prioritised. Integrating disaster medicine into the education and continuous professional development of medical and nursing staff is essential for building a resilient healthcare workforce capable of responding to future crises. Declarations Author contributions: Fatima A. Ayyad and Roa Abdalsalam contributed to the conceptualisation, methodology, investigation, validation, writing of the initial draft, and revision of the final draft. Eltayeb Abdalla handled data curation, formal analysis, interpretation, and final draft revision. Salih B. Hamza was involved in the methodology, investigation, writing of the initial draft, and final draft revision. Baha Aldeen Alshareif contributed to the revision of the final draft. The following authors contributed to the data collection and final draft revision: Alaa A. Ayyad, Alaa Salih, Rana Hassan, Noura Mamdouh, Elmustafa Emad, Mihad Adil, Mohamed Abdelgader, Hussamaldin Mohammed, Maha Adam, Almiqdad Salahaldin, Faisal Shiekh, Afrah Tageldin, Walaa Mamoun, and Anfal Alamir. Mohi Eldin Hassan provided supervision, contributed to methodology and validation, and was involved in writing the initial draft and revising the final draft. Acknowledgments We thank MedStat Research Centre for their technical support in preparing this manuscript. Data availability statement The dataset analysed in this study is available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author Funding statement This study received no funds or grants from any private or public agency Conflict of interest disclosure The authors declare no conflict of interest Ethical approval statement Ethical approval was obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan. Patient consent statement Informed consent was electronically signed by each participant before their participation. Clinical trial registration number Not applicable References Nofal A, Alfayyad I, Khan A, Al Aseri Z, Abu-Shaheen A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of emergency department staff towards disaster and emergency preparedness at tertiary health care hospital in central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2018 Nov;39(11):1123-9. doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.11.23026. Ahmed I, Mubarak M, Arbab A, Khalid N. Collapse of cancer care under the current conflict in Sudan. JCO Glob Oncol. 2024;(10):e24.00144. doi: 10.1200/GO.24.00144. Badri R, Dawood I. The implications of the Sudan war on healthcare workers and facilities: A health system tragedy. Confl Health. 2024;18(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s13031-024-00581-w. Shanableh S, Alomar MJ, Palaian S, AlAhmad MM, Ibrahim MIM. Knowledge, attitude, and readiness towards disaster management: A nationwide survey among healthcare practitioners in United Arab Emirates. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(2):e0278056. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278056. Bayntun C, Rockenschaub G, Murray V. Developing a health system approach to disaster management: A qualitative analysis of the core literature to complement the WHO Toolkit for assessing health-system capacity for crisis management. PLoS Curr. 2012;4:e4f7a4b712d753. United Nations. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. Geneva: United Nations; 2015. United Nations. Adoption of the Paris Agreement. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Geneva: United Nations; 2015. World Health Organization. International Health Regulations. 3rd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016. United Nations. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Geneva: United Nations; 2015. World Health Organization. Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Tassew SF, Mengistie YA, Tesfaye YG, Tadesse TA. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of health professionals working in emergency units towards disaster and emergency preparedness in South Gondar Zone hospitals, Ethiopia, 2020. Pan Afr Med J. 2022;41:314. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.41.314.32359. Khorram-Manesh A. Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management. 1st ed. Sweden: Sahlgrenska Academy; 2017. Schwartz RD. The impact of correctional institutions on public health during a pandemic or emerging infection disaster. Am J Disaster Med. 2008 May-Jun;3(3):165-70. PMID: 18666513. Ashenafi Habte, Adamu Addisie, Aklilu Azazh. (2018). Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Disaster Preparedness among Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Health Care Workers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. American Journal of Nursing Science , 7 (1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20180701.15 Berhanu, Negalign et al. “Knowledge, Experiences and Training Needs of Health Professionals about Disaster Preparedness and Response in Southwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.” Ethiopian journal of health sciences vol. 26,5 (2016): 415-426. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i5.3 Getenet, Bekele et al. “Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Frontline Health Care Workers to Disaster Risk Management in Private General Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.” Ethiopian journal of health sciences vol. 33,5 (2023): 795-804. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v33i5.9 Ncube A, Chimenya GNT . Hospital disaster emergency preparedness: A study of Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, Northern Namibia. Afr Saf Promot J Inj Violence Prev . 2016;14(2):22–37. von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP; STROBE Initiative. 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Al Khalaileh, Murad A A et al. “The Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool: psychometric testing of the Classical Arabic version.” Journal of advanced nursing vol. 66,3 (2010): 664-72. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05208.x Al Thobaity, Abdulellah et al. “Perceptions of knowledge of disaster management among military and civilian nurses in Saudi Arabia.” Australasian emergency nursing journal : AENJ vol. 18,3 (2015): 156-64. doi:10.1016/j.aenj.2015.03.001 Alzahrani, Fuad, and Yiannis Kyratsis. “Emergency nurse disaster preparedness during mass gatherings: a cross-sectional survey of emergency nurses' perceptions in hospitals in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.” BMJ open vol. 7,4 e013563. 11 Apr. 2017, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013563 Al-Ziftawi, Nour Hisham et al. “Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Readiness to Practice Regarding Disaster Medicine and Preparedness Among University Health Students.” Disaster medicine and public health preparedness vol. 15,3 (2021): 316-324. doi:10.1017/dmp.2019.157 Al-Ali, N M, and A H Abu Ibaid. “Health-care providers' perception of knowledge, skills and preparedness for disaster management in primary health-care centres in Jordan.” Eastern Mediterranean health journal vol. 21,10 713-21. 13 Dec. 2015, doi:10.26719/2015.21.10.713 Naser, Waheeb Nasr, and Huda Ba Saleem. “Emergency and disaster management training; knowledge and attitude of Yemeni health professionals- a cross-sectional study.” BMC emergency medicine vol. 18,1 23. 6 Aug. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12873-018-0174-5 Su T, Han X, Chen F, Du Y, Zhang H, Yin J, et al. Knowledge levels and training needs of disaster medicine among health professionals, medical students, and local residents in Shanghai, China. PLoS One. 2013;8:e67041. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067041. Putra A, Petpichetchian W, Maneewat K. Perceived ability to practice in disaster management among public health nurses in Aceh, Indonesia. Nurse Media J Nurs. 2011;1(2):169-86. doi: 10.14710/nmjn.v1i2.1060. Jacobson HE, Soto Mas F, Hsu CE, Turley JP, Miller J, Kim M. Self-assessed emergency readiness and training needs of nurses in rural Texas. Public Health Nurs. 2010 Jan-Feb;27(1):41-8. PMID: 20055967. Crane JS, McCluskey JD, Johnson GT, Harbison RD. Assessment of community healthcare providers' ability and willingness to respond to emergencies resulting from bioterrorist attacks. J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2010 Jan;3(1):13-20. PMID: 20165716. Markenson D, Woolf S, Redlener I, Reilly M. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness of health professions students: A multidisciplinary assessment of knowledge, confidence, and attitudes. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7:499-506. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2013.90. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 May, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Emergency Medicine → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 06 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 04 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 02 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 21 Apr, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 15 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 31 Mar, 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. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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-5710388","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":445938000,"identity":"54217d29-83e2-4aff-9fd5-45949bfef704","order_by":0,"name":"Fatima A. 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09:23:21","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5710388/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5710388/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01238-4","type":"published","date":"2025-05-15T15:58:11+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":83068077,"identity":"93516cd5-2a03-4318-913e-d1092f18e3b8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-19 16:09:58","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1740090,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5710388/v1/ccfe96ee-2ca6-42b0-b7ef-f52c61c90f4d.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003ePerceived Disaster Preparedness, Knowledge, and Skills Among Sudanese Healthcare Professionals During the Armed Conflict: Cross-Sectional Study, 2024\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eDisasters, whether natural or human-made, lead to significant loss of life and property, and their impact varies by region, culture, and resources [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Sudan has faced repeated crises in recent decades, from political upheavals to epidemics and floods. Recently, violence between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces caused the greatest internal displacement globally, with 9.05\u0026nbsp;million internally displaced people and 1.47\u0026nbsp;million fleeing as refugees [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, attacks on health personnel and facilities present heightened risks for epidemics of cholera, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Among these challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgent need for strengthened disaster preparedness worldwide [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA new integrated disaster management (DM) framework has emerged to safeguard healthcare during crises [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. The World Health Organization's Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) Framework (2019) emphasises the vital role of health systems in DM, drawing on earlier global agreements such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015\u0026ndash;2030 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e], the Paris Agreement on Climate Change [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e], the International Health Regulations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e], and the Sustainable Development Goals 2015\u0026ndash;2030 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. This approach highlights comprehensive resource coordination, preparedness, and the key responsibilities of primary health care (PHC) services in disaster response [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Because hospitals are central to delivering life-saving care after catastrophes, health providers must remain equipped to manage unforeseen crises [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisaster preparedness encompasses all proactive actions taken prior to an event to ensure an organised response [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. Given the frequency and severity of disasters, many institutions, including hospitals, have introduced preparedness and response plans [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. However, training gaps have been reported in similar contexts with low, particularly in low-income countries [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR15 CR16\" citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Formal disaster management education in Sudan has been limited; undergraduate medical curricula traditionally focus on clinical training rather than disaster medicine. However, recent emphasis by the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Care Agency has begun to address this gap through specialised training programs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite the frequent disasters in Sudan, data on healthcare preparedness in the region remain scarce. PHCs appear integral to DM, but little research has explored their real-world preparedness. Moreover, Sudanese health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and training for disaster response have not been thoroughly examined. Consequently, this study aims to assess Sudanese health professionals' perception of disaster medicine proficiency and identify gaps to improve readiness.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1. Study Design, Settings, and Participants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design conducted entirely online among doctors, nurses, and medical assistants working in various healthcare facilities in Sudan (governmental, military, and teaching). The methodology aligns with the STROBE Statement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Data were collected via the classical Arabic version of the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET), which was previously validated [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. A Google Forms survey link was created, allowing participants to complete the questionnaire upon providing informed consent.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA minimum sample size of 384 healthcare professionals was determined using Cochran\u0026rsquo;s formula for an unknown population, assuming a 5% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval. In this formula, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Z\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026sdot;p\u0026sdot;(1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;p)/d\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e ​, where n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;384, Z\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.96 (corresponding to a 95% confidence level), p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.5 (assumed prevalence for maximum variability), and d\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05 (margin of error).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire was divided into three subscales. The first subscale assessed knowledge, skills, and individual preparedness (25 items; response range 1\u0026ndash;6, from \"strongly disagree\" to \"strongly agree\"); the second subscale measured disaster response during the mitigation phase (14 items; 1\u0026ndash;6 Likert scale); and the third focused on postdisaster recovery (6 items; 1\u0026ndash;6 Likert scale). The reported Cronbach's alpha coefficients for preparation, knowledge, and skills were 0.95, 0.87, and 0.92, respectively. The original cut-off positions were retained [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. Thus, mean values of 1\u0026ndash;2.99 suggest low preparedness, 3\u0026ndash;4.99 indicate moderate preparedness, and 5\u0026ndash;6 denote high preparedness. Additional open-ended questions captured qualitative data. The demographic information collected included age, sex, marital status, education level, job position, years of experience, hospital type, weekly work hours, and prior disaster exposure.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2.2. Data collection process\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudy participants were recruited primarily via frequently used social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram). Before completing the questionnaire, individuals were asked to provide electronic informed consent; they were then encouraged to share the survey link with professional colleagues to bolster participant numbers. The participants were required to sign in with a Google account to access the survey form, ensuring the uniqueness of the responses.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA pilot test of 20 participants confirmed the clarity and comprehensibility of the instrument before its widespread distribution. Prior to data collection, the participants were given detailed information about the study's objectives and the approximate time needed to complete the survey. They were also informed that participation was voluntary and that all the responses would remain anonymous and confidential. To maintain an optimal response rate, the collaborator team sent periodic reminders.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2.3. Data analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll the data were entered and analysed via SPSS (version 28). Descriptive statistics for categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables are summarised using means and standard deviations. Pearson correlation and ANOVA were used for univariate analysis, and multivariate linear regression was employed to further investigate associations between independent variables and participants' knowledge, skills, and preparedness. Statistical significance was set at \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05. The results were presented via narrative descriptions and tabular formats.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDemographic Characteristics of Healthcare Providers\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study included 1,505 healthcare providers with a mean age of 28.5 years (\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The female participants accounted for 61.1% of the sample, whereas the male participants accounted for 38.9%. Most participants were single (81.4%), with only 18.6% married. Most participants held a bachelor's degree (80.3%), followed by a master's degree (10.4%), a PhD (6.2%), and a diploma (1.1%).\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 healthcare providers (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\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=\"left\" 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\u003eCharacter\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategory\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCount (%)/ Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e586 (38.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e919 (61.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarital Status\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1225 (81.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e280 (18.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (1.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBachelor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1208 (80.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e156 (10.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93 (6.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32 (2.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"7\" rowspan=\"8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePosition\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsultant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (1.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecialist\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82 (5.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegistrar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e258 (17.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedical officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e686 (45.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHouse officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e172 (11.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrehouse officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e126 (8.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNurse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e142 (9.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedical assistant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (1.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHospital\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGovernmental\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e814 (54.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUniversity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e127 (8.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMilitary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e162 (10.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e402 (26.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExperience\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLess than 1 year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e484 (32.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;3 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e640 (42.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;5 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e170 (11.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;7 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76 (5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMore than 7 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e135 (9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorking hours (week)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevious exposure to\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1079 (71.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e426 (28.3%)\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\u003eFor professional roles, medical officers made up the largest group (45.6%), followed by registrars (17.1%), house officers (11.4%), and nurses (9.4%). Consultants and specialists represented 1.5% and 5.4% of the participants. Healthcare providers primarily worked in governmental hospitals (54.1%), with others distributed across private (26.7%), military (10.8%), and university hospitals (8.4%). Experience levels varied, with 42.5% reporting 1\u0026ndash;3 years of experience, 32.2% having less than one year, and only 9% with more than seven years of experience. Weekly working hours averaged 41.6 hours (\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21), and prior exposure to disaster situations was reported by 28.3% of the participants (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eHealthcare Providers' Perception of Knowledge of Disaster Management\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e summarizes healthcare providers\u0026rsquo; self-reported knowledge of disaster management. The mean knowledge score is 4.01 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.10), suggesting moderately high self-perceived awareness and understanding. Among individual items, the highest mean (4.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.39) appears for willingness to attend disaster preparedness classes tailored to the local community (Item 7), indicating a strong interest in targeted education. In contrast, the lowest mean (3.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.68) is the perception that sufficient support from local officials exists during a disaster (Item 14), implying uncertainty or dissatisfaction with official support. The interquartile range shows that most participants rate their knowledge-related statements around 3 to 5 on the Likert scale.\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\u003eHealthcare providers' perceptions of their knowledge of disaster management (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" 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=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1. I participate in disaster drills or exercises at my workplace on a regular basis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2. I have participated in emergency plan drafting and planning for disaster situations in my community.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3. I know who to contact (chain of command) in disaster situations in my community.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4. I participate in continuing education classes, seminars, or conferences dealing with disaster preparedness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5. I read journal articles related to disaster preparedness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.88\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6. I am aware of classes about disaster preparedness and management offered at my workplace, university, or community.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.07\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7. I would be interested in educational classes on disaster preparedness that relate specifically to my community.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8. I find that the research literature on disaster preparedness and management is easily accessible.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9. I find that the research literature on disaster preparedness is understandable.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11. Finding relevant information about disaster preparedness is an obstacle to my level of preparedness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12. I know where to find relevant research or information to fill in gaps in my knowledge.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.91\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13. I have a list of contacts in the medical/health community (e.g., referral contacts) in case of a disaster.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.70\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14. I think there is sufficient support from local officials in a disaster situation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall disaster management knowledge\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHealthcare Providers' Perception of Skills in Disaster Management\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e presents participants\u0026rsquo; perceptions of their disaster management skills. The overall mean score here is 3.72 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.30). The highest mean (4.07\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.49) relates to awareness of potential vulnerabilities in the community (Item 17), suggesting a strong sense of local risk identification. Conversely, one of the lowest mean scores (3.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.68) pertains to creating or lobbying for new guidelines and emergency plans (Item 15), indicating that fewer participants actively engage in policy-level interventions. The percentiles reveal that most respondents rate themselves around a 3 or 4 in skill-based activities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHealthcare providers' perceptions of their disaster management skills (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" 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=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10. I consider myself prepared for the management of disasters.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15. I participate/have participated in creating new guidelines, emergency plans, or lobbying for improvements on the local/national level.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16. I would be considered a key leadership figure in my community in a disaster situation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17. I am aware of the potential vulnerabilities in my community (e.g., earthquakes, floods, terror).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.07\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to use personal protective equipment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to execute decontamination procedures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to perform isolation procedures to minimise community exposure.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.79\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22. I am familiar with the local emergency response system for disasters.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.51\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23. I am familiar with accepted triage principles used in disaster situations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.82\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24. I have personal/family emergency plans in place for disaster situations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.70\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25. I have an arrangement with loved ones on how to execute our personal/family emergency plans.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall disaster management skills\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHealthcare Providers' Perception of Preparedness for Disaster Management\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e focuses on participants\u0026rsquo; self-perceived preparedness for disaster response and management. The aggregate preparedness score is 4.15 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.10), suggesting that, on average, respondents feel relatively prepared. Several items stand out for their high means: knowing the limits of one\u0026rsquo;s professional scope (Item 18, 4.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.41) and identifying clusters of similar symptoms in mass-exposure scenarios (Item 26, 4.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.29). However, familiarity with organizational logistics across local, state, and federal agencies (Item 37, 3.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.58) shows a lower mean. Overall, the interquartile ranges hover between 3 and 5, reinforcing that most participants have at least moderate confidence in disaster preparedness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHealthcare providers' perceptions of their preparedness for disaster management (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" 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=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75th\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18. I know the limits of my knowledge, skills, and authority, and when I exceed them in disaster situations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26. I can identify indicators of mass exposure by clustering of patients with similar symptoms.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27. I can manage common symptoms/reactions of disaster survivors (affective, behavioral, cognitive, physical).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28. I am familiar with psychological interventions, behavioral therapy, support groups, and debriefing for those who experience trauma.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29. I can describe my role in the response phase of a disaster (workplace, public, media, personal contacts).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30. I am familiar with the main groups (A, B, C) of biological weapons (e.g., anthrax, plague, botulism) and their signs, symptoms, and effective treatments.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31. I feel confident discerning deviations in health assessments indicating potential exposure to biological agents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.83\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32. I feel confident in my abilities as a direct care provider and first responder in disaster situations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33. I would feel confident as a manager or coordinator of a shelter.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34. I would feel reasonably confident as a member of a decontamination team.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.41\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35. In case of a bioterrorism/biological attack, I know how to perform a focused health history and assessment for the relevant bioagents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36. I feel reasonably confident treating patients independently without supervision in a disaster situation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37. I am familiar with the logistics and roles among local, state, and federal agencies in disaster response.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38. I feel confident implementing emergency plans, evacuation procedures, and similar functions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39. I feel confident providing patient education on stress and abnormal functioning related to trauma.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40. I feel confident providing education on coping skills and training for patients who experience traumatic situations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.19\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41. I can discern signs and symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42. I am familiar with the scope of my role as a doctor/nurse practitioner in a postdisaster situation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43. I participate in peer evaluation of skills on disaster preparedness and response.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44. I am familiar with how to perform a focused health assessment for PTSD.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45. I feel confident managing emotional outcomes (e.g., ASD, PTSD) in a multidisciplinary way (referrals, follow-ups) postdisaster.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall disaster preparedness\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eUnivariate Analysis of Knowledge, Skills, and Preparedness\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnivariate analysis revealed several significant associations between participant characteristics and disaster management domains (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e):\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnivariate analysis of knowledge, skills, and preparedness by demographic characteristics (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\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=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacter\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategory\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKnowledge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSkills\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreparedness\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026plusmn; SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026plusmn; SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u0026plusmn; SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\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\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.93\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.60\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarital Status\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.256\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.972\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.797\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.97\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.002\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBachelor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.98\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.68\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.07\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"7\" rowspan=\"8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePosition\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsultant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"7\" rowspan=\"8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"7\" rowspan=\"8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.43\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"7\" rowspan=\"8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecialist\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.10\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.86\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegistrar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.86\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedical officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHouse officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePre-H O\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.63\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNurse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM. Assistant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHospital\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGovernmental\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.402\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.70\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.532\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.837\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUniversity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.92\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.63\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMilitary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.22\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExperience\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;1 year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.82\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;3 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;5 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.82\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026ndash;7 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.02\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.43\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;7 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.10\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorking hrs/week\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevious exposure to disaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.86\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9\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\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eAge\u003c/b\u003e: Older participants had higher scores in knowledge (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.08, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), skills (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.08, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), and preparedness (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.07, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eGender\u003c/b\u003e: Male participants scored significantly higher than females in knowledge (mean\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1 vs. 3.93\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), skills (3.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3 vs. 3.60\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), and preparedness (4.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1 vs. 4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eMarital Status\u003c/b\u003e: No significant differences were observed between single and married participants in any domain (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eEducation\u003c/b\u003e: Participants with higher educational levels (e.g., Master\u0026rsquo;s degrees) had significantly higher scores in knowledge, skills, and preparedness (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePosition\u003c/b\u003e: Nurses and consultants had the highest scores in knowledge (4.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0 and 4.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2, respectively), skills (4.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1 and 4.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.4), and preparedness (4.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9 and 4.43\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2), while house officers and medical assistants scored lowest across all domains (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eHospital Sector\u003c/b\u003e: No significant differences in scores were found between governmental, university, military, or private hospitals (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eExperience\u003c/b\u003e: Participants with more than 7 years of experience had the highest scores in knowledge (4.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2), skills (4.10\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3), and preparedness (4.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2), with significant differences across experience levels (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eWorking Hours\u003c/b\u003e: Increased weekly working hours were positively associated with higher scores in knowledge (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.11, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), skills (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.11, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and preparedness (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.12, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePrevious Disaster Exposure\u003c/b\u003e: Participants with prior disaster exposure scored significantly higher than those without in knowledge (4.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0 vs. 3.86\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1), skills (4.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1 vs. 3.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3), and preparedness (4.57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9 vs. 3.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1) (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMultivariate Analysis of Knowledge, Skills, and Preparedness\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariate linear regression identified several predictors of disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e):\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariate analysis of predictors of knowledge, skills, and preparedness (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\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=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacter\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKnowledge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSkills\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreparedness\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeta\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeta\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeta\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\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\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.018\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.661\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.662\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.044\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.273\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.042\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.113\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-0.056\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.033\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.397\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarital Status\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.493\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.940\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.015\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.619\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.039\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.165\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.031\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.270\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.048\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePosition\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.085\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.004\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.114\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.093\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.002\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExperience\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.144\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.172\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.199\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorking hrs/week\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.063\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.016\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.065\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.013\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.066\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.012\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevious exposure to disaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.180\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.185\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.196\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\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\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePrevious Disaster Exposure\u003c/b\u003e was the strongest predictor across all three domains:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt was positively associated with knowledge (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.180, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), skills (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.185, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and preparedness (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.196, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), indicating that participants with prior exposure to disasters had significantly higher scores in all areas after adjusting for other variables.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eExperience\u003c/b\u003e was also a significant positive predictor of knowledge (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.144, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), skills (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.172, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and preparedness (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.199, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), suggesting that healthcare workers with more years of experience reported greater competence in disaster management.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePosition\u003c/b\u003e was significantly associated with higher scores in knowledge (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.085, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.004), skills (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.114, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and preparedness (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.093, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.002).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eWorking Hours per Week\u003c/b\u003e showed a positive association with all three domains: knowledge (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.063, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.016), skills (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.065, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.013), and preparedness (β\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.066, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.012), indicating that greater involvement in clinical work enhances disaster-related competencies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eHealthcare Providers' Perception of Educational Needs for Disaster Management\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe most commonly reported educational need was understanding the scope of their role and practice in disaster situations (37.8%) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e). Other notable needs included identifying community vulnerabilities (19.1%), understanding biological agents and their differential diagnosis and treatment (17.8%), and knowing available resources such as emergency contacts, community shelters, and health department services (18.9%). Educational needs related to recovery phases, such as managing acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were also highlighted (18.9%). Despite these gaps, more than half of the participants (52.8%) reported feeling prepared for disasters (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab7\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 7\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducational needs for disaster management among healthcare providers (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1505).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\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 \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCount (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMy role (my scope of practice, skills) as a doctor/nurse practitioner in a disaster situation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e569 (37.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat potential vulnerabilities exist in my community in case of a disaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e288 (19.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to respond and assure health promotion, protection, and disease prevention in the community settings such as clinics or doctors' offices in case of disaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e287 (19.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBiological agents and ways to identify their signs and symptoms\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e268 (17.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBiological agents and their differential diagnosis and treatments\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e268 (17.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResources in my community such as agencies for referral, health departments, emergency contacts, the chain of command, and community shelters\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e284 (18.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecovery state: acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and crisis intervention (focused assessment, debriefing strategies, and behavioral, cognitive, or medication therapy)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e285 (18.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI feel prepared for disaster\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e794 (52.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eKey Findings of the Study\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis cross-sectional survey examined the perceived levels of disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills among 1,505 Sudanese healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the midst of an armed conflict. The overall results revealed moderate preparedness (mean\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.15), moderate knowledge (mean\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.01), and slightly lower skills (mean\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.72). Nurses and consultants scored consistently higher across these domains, while younger providers, such as house officers, reported lower confidence and knowledge. Prior exposure to disaster events emerged as the strongest predictor of high perceived competence in all areas. Nevertheless, critical gaps were identified, including a limited grasp of local emergency systems, insufficient collaboration in disaster planning, and inadequate familiarity with triage protocols.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eComparison With Similar African, Arab, and International Contexts\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese results mirror moderate to low disaster readiness across many African and Middle Eastern settings. In Ethiopia, studies frequently cite poor knowledge, limited participation in drills, and minimal structured training [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR15\" citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Similar trends emerge in Namibia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e], Saudi Arabia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e], the UAE [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], Qatar [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e], Jordan [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e], and Yemen [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e], where moderate awareness coexists with few formal programs. International research in China [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e], Indonesia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e], and the United States [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR28\" citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e] further underscores that theoretical familiarity alone is inadequate without practical preparedness\u0026mdash;an issue paralleled in our Sudanese sample.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFactors Affecting Variations in Disaster Preparedness\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral factors consistently shape the variation in disaster readiness. In this study, prior disaster exposure emerged as the single strongest predictor of higher knowledge, skills, and preparedness scores, which was also observed by Tassew et al. [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], Nofal et al. [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e], and Berhanu et al. [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Professional role and years of experience further delineated competence levels: nurses and consultants in our sample scored better than peers, mirroring Al Thobaity et al. [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e], who reported superior disaster preparedness among military nurses in Saudi Arabia. Lack of systematic training, however, persists as a major barrier across both low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and wealthier regions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale participants perceived themselves as more knowledgeable, skilled, and prepared for disasters than females, consistent with previous studies' findings [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. This gender difference may reflect disparities in training opportunities or workplace roles. Although our data did not reveal significant differences by hospital sector, other studies highlight possible variations, for instance, between military and civilian hospitals, attributable to differing resource allocations or institutional priorities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRecommendations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on these findings, disaster management should be integrated into medical and nursing curricula to equip healthcare professionals with practical skills such as triage, mass casualty management, and recovery strategies. While some training exists, mainly through the emergency care agency funded by some NGOs, it remains limited in accessibility, particularly across the rural and private sectors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMandatory disaster drills and role-specific training for doctors, nurses, and medical assistants should be implemented to enhance hands-on preparedness. Training programs must also ensure gender equity by addressing barriers female healthcare workers face.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCommunity-centred programs should focus on local vulnerabilities and available resources, such as referral systems and emergency shelters. To ensure uniform delivery across public, private, and military sectors, a national training framework should be established under the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Council for Civil Defence. Funding could come from government budgets, international donors, and public-private partnerships.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eImproving access to updated disaster protocols and promoting ongoing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workshops are essential to building a resilient healthcare system. Future research should include diverse healthcare settings and adopt mixed-method approaches to explore gaps and solutions in disaster preparedness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eLimitations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study has several limitations. Data collection was conducted online due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which potentially introduced selection bias. The study relied solely on quantitative data, which limits the ability to capture the depth and complexity of participants' perceptions. Future research should involve more representative samples across all Sudanese states and employ mixed-methods approaches to provide richer insights into disaster preparedness and training needs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study highlights critical knowledge, skills, and preparedness gaps among Sudanese healthcare professionals for disaster management. Given the profound impact of disasters, these deficiencies must be urgently addressed. First responders, in particular, need to be equipped to handle emergencies effectively. Specific areas of disaster medicine, such as triage, evacuation, and first aid, should be prioritised. Integrating disaster medicine into the education and continuous professional development of medical and nursing staff is essential for building a resilient healthcare workforce capable of responding to future crises.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFatima A. Ayyad and Roa Abdalsalam contributed to the conceptualisation, methodology, investigation, validation, writing of the initial draft, and revision of the final draft. Eltayeb Abdalla handled data curation, formal analysis, interpretation, and final draft revision. Salih B. Hamza was involved in the methodology, investigation, writing of the initial draft, and final draft revision. Baha Aldeen Alshareif contributed to the revision of the final draft.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe following authors contributed to the data collection and final draft revision: Alaa A. Ayyad, Alaa Salih, Rana Hassan, Noura Mamdouh, Elmustafa Emad, Mihad Adil, Mohamed Abdelgader, Hussamaldin Mohammed, Maha Adam, Almiqdad Salahaldin, Faisal Shiekh, Afrah Tageldin, Walaa Mamoun, and Anfal Alamir.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMohi Eldin Hassan provided supervision, contributed to methodology and validation, and was involved in writing the initial draft and revising the final draft.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe thank MedStat Research Centre for their technical support in preparing this manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dataset analysed in this study is available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study received no funds or grants from any private or public agency\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest disclosure\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no conflict of interest\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthical approval was obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePatient consent statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInformed consent was electronically signed by each participant before their participation.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClinical trial registration number\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNofal A, Alfayyad I, Khan A, Al Aseri Z, Abu-Shaheen A. 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Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Disaster Preparedness among Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Health Care Workers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. \u003cem\u003eAmerican Journal of Nursing Science\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e7\u003c/em\u003e(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20180701.15\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBerhanu, Negalign et al. \u0026ldquo;Knowledge, Experiences and Training Needs of Health Professionals about Disaster Preparedness and Response in Southwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.\u0026rdquo; \u003cem\u003eEthiopian journal of health sciences\u003c/em\u003e vol. 26,5 (2016): 415-426. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i5.3\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGetenet, Bekele et al. \u0026ldquo;Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Frontline Health Care Workers to Disaster Risk Management in Private General Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.\u0026rdquo; \u003cem\u003eEthiopian journal of health sciences\u003c/em\u003e vol. 33,5 (2023): 795-804. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v33i5.9\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNcube A, Chimenya GNT\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e Hospital disaster emergency preparedness: A study of Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, Northern Namibia. \u003cem\u003eAfr Saf Promot J Inj Violence Prev\u003c/em\u003e. 2016;14(2):22\u0026ndash;37.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003evon Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, G\u0026oslash;tzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP; STROBE Initiative. 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Knowledge levels and training needs of disaster medicine among health professionals, medical students, and local residents in Shanghai, China. PLoS One. 2013;8:e67041. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067041.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePutra A, Petpichetchian W, Maneewat K. Perceived ability to practice in disaster management among public health nurses in Aceh, Indonesia. Nurse Media J Nurs. 2011;1(2):169-86. doi: 10.14710/nmjn.v1i2.1060.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacobson HE, Soto Mas F, Hsu CE, Turley JP, Miller J, Kim M. Self-assessed emergency readiness and training needs of nurses in rural Texas. Public Health Nurs. 2010 Jan-Feb;27(1):41-8. PMID: 20055967.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrane JS, McCluskey JD, Johnson GT, Harbison RD. Assessment of community healthcare providers\u0026apos; ability and willingness to respond to emergencies resulting from bioterrorist attacks. J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2010 Jan;3(1):13-20. PMID: 20165716.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarkenson D, Woolf S, Redlener I, Reilly M. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness of health professions students: A multidisciplinary assessment of knowledge, confidence, and attitudes. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7:499-506. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2013.90.\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 management, healthcare professionals, disaster preparedness, Sudan, disaster training","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5710388/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5710388/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisaster preparedness is a critical component of healthcare, especially in regions prone to crisis. Sudan has faced significant challenges, including armed conflict, the displacement of millions, and outbreaks of diseases such as COVID-19, acute watery diarrhoea, and dengue fever. This study evaluated the perceived preparedness, knowledge, and skills of Sudanese healthcare professionals (HCPs) in disaster management.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,505 HCPs via an online self-administered questionnaire. The classical Arabic version of the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET) was utilised. The data were analysed via SPSS v28, with univariate and multivariate analyses performed to identify predictors of disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants perceived themselves as moderately prepared (mean 4.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1), knowledgeable (mean 4.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1), and skilled (mean 3.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3) in disaster management. Nurses reported higher knowledge scores than physicians, whereas male participants and those with prior disaster exposure presented higher levels of perceived preparedness, knowledge, and skills (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Previous experience in disaster management was a significant predictor of disaster management competency (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Despite moderate perceptions overall, gaps were identified in specific areas, such as familiarity with local emergency systems and disaster triage.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSudanese HCPs face notable gaps in disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills, exacerbated by limited training and practical experience. Addressing these deficiencies through targeted education, disaster drills, and integrating disaster medicine into curricula is imperative to build a resilient healthcare workforce capable of managing crises effectively.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Perceived Disaster Preparedness, Knowledge, and Skills Among Sudanese Healthcare Professionals During the Armed Conflict: Cross-Sectional Study, 2024","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-04-23 15:31:55","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5710388/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-05-06T05:52:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-06T05:46:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-04T18:59:34+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-02T15:27:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"237895271164854134062178785472071423926","date":"2025-04-24T10:10:42+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"240381387558563699106109729747627171007","date":"2025-04-24T08:56:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-04-21T21:10:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-04-15T04:02:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Emergency Medicine","date":"2025-03-31T05:42:52+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":"aaeb5d15-4bc3-4206-9966-3093b1cd0afa","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 23rd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-05-19T16:08:02+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5710388","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01238-4","journal":{"identity":"bmc-emergency-medicine","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Emergency Medicine"},"publishedOn":"2025-05-15 15:58:11","publishedOnDateReadable":"May 15th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-04-23 15:31:55","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12873-025-01238-4","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01238-4","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5710388","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5710388","identity":"rs-5710388","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}