Comparing disaster preparedness knowledge, attitudes, and practices between emergency medicine residents in Riyadh region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65759/hbp49z70Keywords:
disaster preparedness, emergency medicine residents, knowledge, attitude, practiceAbstract
Background: Disaster preparedness is important for emergency medicine residents because they should respond quickly and effectively during disasters. In this study we aimed to compare disaster preparedness knowledge, attitude, and practice in emergency medicine residents in the Riyadh region.
Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted 2025 using an electronic self-administered questionnaire. Emergency medicine residents from R1 to R4 from nine training centers in Riyadh were included. The questionnaire assessed demographic data and disaster preparedness knowledge, attitude, and practice. Scores were calculated for the three domains. Non-parametric tests and Spearman correlation were used in the analysis.
Results: 111 residents were included, and 69.4% were male. The median knowledge score was 64.3% (IQR 57.1–78.6), median attitude score 87.5% (IQR 81.2–93.8), and the median practice score 33.3% (IQR 16.7–55.0). Knowledge was higher in males than females (p=0.013). Practice score differed by training level (p<0.001), with higher scores in senior residents, mainly R3 and R4 compared with R1. Knowledge showed a positive correlation with attitude (rho=0.378, p<0.001) and practice (rho=0.665, p<0.001), while attitude had a weak positive correlation with practice (rho=0.215, p=0.024).
Conclusion: Emergency medicine residents in Riyadh had a strong attitude, moderate knowledge, and weak practice toward disaster preparedness. Practical training and regular drills are needed for junior residents.
References
1] Gillani AH, Ibrahim MIM, Akbar J, Fang Y. Evaluation of disaster medicine preparedness among healthcare profession students: A cross-sectional study in pakistan. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062027.
[2] Sena A, Forde F, Yu C, Sule H, Masters MM. Disaster Preparedness Training for Emergency Medicine Residents Using a Tabletop Exercise. MedEdPORTAL 2021;17:11119. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11119.
[3] Ayyad FA, Abdalsalam R, Abdalla E, Hamza SB, Alshareif BA, Ayyad AA, et al. Perceived disaster preparedness, knowledge, and skills among Sudanese healthcare professionals during the armed conflict: cross-sectional study, 2024. BMC Emerg Med 2025;25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01238-4.
[4] Aljerian N, Omair A, Yousif S, Alqahtani A, Alhusain F, Alotaibi B, et al. Evaluation of Change in Knowledge and Attitude of Emergency Medicine Residents after Introduction of a Rotation in Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine. J Emerg Trauma Shock 2018;11:42. https://doi.org/10.4103/jets.jets_67_17.
[5] Yllmaz TE, Yllmaz T, Örnek Büken N, Özkara A, Altlntaş KH. Awareness of family physician residents of their roles in disaster health management: A cross-sectional study in Turkey. Prim Health Care Res Dev 2020;21. https://doi.org/10.1017/S146342362000047X.
[6] Basnawi AM, Koshak AK. Emergency management in primary health care clinics in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia: cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2025;13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1626854.
[7] Bin Shalhoub AA, Khan AA, Alaska YA. Evaluation of disaster preparedness for mass casualty incidents in private hospitals in central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2017;38:302–6. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2017.3.17483.
[8] Khan A, Alowais J, Nofal A, Alama T. Assessment of disaster preparedness at general hospitals in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Province, Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2021;42:537–42. https://doi.org/10.15537/SMJ.2021.42.5.20200804.
[9] Wael AM, Alotaibi AA. Assessing internal disaster preparedness at Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh. J Family Med Prim Care 2025;14:5122–31. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_843_25.
[10] Alotaibi SS, Almutairi HA, Alotaibi MK, Alharbi K, Bahari G. Enhancing Nurses’ Disaster Management and Preparedness: Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Online Educational Program Through a Quasi-Experimental Study. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2024;17:101–11. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S446704.
[11] Nofal A, Alfayyad I, Khan A, Al Aseri Z, Abu-Shaheen A. Knowledge, attitudes, andpractices of emergencydepartment staff towards disaster and emergency preparedness at tertiary health care hospital in central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2018;39:1123–9. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2018.11.23026.
[12] Abdelghany Ibrahim FA. Nurses Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Familiarity Regarding Disaster and Emergency Preparedness – Saudi Arabia. American Journal of Nursing Science 2014;3:18. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20140302.12.
[13] Shanableh S, Alomar MJ, Palaian S, Al-Ahmad MM, Ibrahim MIM. Knowledge, attitude, and readiness towards disaster management: A nationwide survey among healthcare practitioners in United Arab Emirates. PLoS One 2023;18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278056.
[14] Tassew SF, Chanie ES, Birle TA, Amare AT, Kerebih G, Nega TD, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of health professionals working in emergency units towards disaster and emergency preparedness in South Gondar Zone hospitals, Ethiopia, 2020. Pan African Medical Journal 2022;41. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2022.41.314.32359.
[15] Thirunavukkarasu A, Alsaidan AA, Aldhafeeri ST, Abdel-Salam DM, Aldhafeeri NT, Alanazi MA, et al. Evaluation of awareness, attitudes, and practices towards disaster preparedness among Saudi healthcare professionals: implications for enhancing emergency response and training. PeerJ 2025;13. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20464.
[16] Jairoun AA, Al-Hemyari SS, Shahwan M, Alorfi NM, El-Dahiyat F, Hossain MS, et al. Exploring the knowledge, attitude and practice towards disaster medicine preparedness and readiness: A prescriptive insight by the community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates. PLoS One 2022;17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273209.
