Evaluation of the factors predicting nurses’ attitude to phase of preparedness to respond to disasters

Resumen

Abstract: Introduction: human life and property havealways faced unpredicted and deadly crises throughoutthe history. Iran ranks sixth in terms of occurrence of naturaldisasters.Objective: This research was conducted to evaluate thefactors predicting the nurses’ attitudes to phase of preparednessto respond to disaster.Methodology: This cross-sectional research was conductedon 384 nurses working in educational centres of Rashtin 2016-2017. A researcher-developed questionnaire wasused to collect data. The research tool included three sectionsof demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudeof nurses with regard to preparedness to respond todisaster. The collected data were analyzed using descriptiveand inferential statistics such as Spearman correlationcoefficient and logistic regression analysis through SPSS21 software (p <0.05).Results: The research results revealed a positive relationshipbetween knowledge and attitude and theknowledge score was considered as a predictor of attitude(OR = 1.638, p = 0.00001). In addition, employmenthistory (OR =1.072 and p=0.024) and having kit of itemsneeded in disaster (OR=20.746 and p=0.004) were consideredas predictors of desirable attitude.Conclusion: The present research revealed that increasingthe knowledge level of nurses, having a kit of itemsrequired in disasters, and increasing their employment historycan increase their attitude, leading to their improvedpractice in providing effective response to disasters.