Iranian nurses providing aid in a disaster zone

Nurse Know-How: Are Iranian Nurses Ready for Disaster?

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study unveils a tool to assess disaster preparedness among Iranian nurses, highlighting crucial gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice."

Disasters, both natural and man-made, are increasingly frequent and devastating. From earthquakes to floods, these events test the resilience of communities and the readiness of healthcare systems. Nurses, as frontline responders, play a vital role in disaster management, providing immediate care and support to affected populations.

In Iran, a country prone to various natural disasters, the preparedness of nurses is particularly critical. However, a significant gap exists: the absence of a standardized tool to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of Iranian nurses concerning disaster preparedness. This lack of assessment makes it difficult to identify areas for improvement and to tailor training programs effectively.

Recognizing this need, a team of researchers has developed and validated a new questionnaire designed specifically to measure disaster preparedness among Iranian nurses. This innovative tool promises to provide valuable insights into the current state of readiness and to guide efforts to enhance nurses' capabilities in disaster response.

Why Assess Disaster Preparedness?

Iranian nurses providing aid in a disaster zone

Effective disaster response hinges on a well-prepared healthcare workforce. Nurses, often the first healthcare professionals on the scene, must possess the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage mass casualty events, provide essential medical care, and coordinate with other responders. Studies have shown that timely intervention by nurses can significantly reduce casualties and improve outcomes.

The newly developed questionnaire addresses several key areas of disaster preparedness:

Knowledge: Assesses nurses' understanding of disaster management principles, emergency protocols, and potential hazards.
Attitude: Measures nurses' beliefs, perceptions, and willingness to participate in disaster response efforts.
Practice: Evaluates nurses' self-reported abilities to perform essential tasks during a disaster, such as triage, wound care, and medication administration.

By evaluating these three crucial aspects, the questionnaire offers a holistic view of nurses' readiness and pinpoints specific areas where targeted training and resources are needed. The questionnaire consists of two parts: the first gathers demographic data such as age, gender, experience, and education level. The second part includes questions assessing knowledge (6 questions), attitude (11 questions), and practice (6 questions). A three-point Likert scale is used, ranging from 1 to 3, to gauge agreement with each item.

A Step Towards a More Resilient Healthcare System

The development and validation of this questionnaire represent a significant step forward in enhancing disaster preparedness among Iranian nurses. By providing a reliable and valid tool for assessing current capabilities, this study paves the way for targeted interventions, improved training programs, and a more resilient healthcare system capable of effectively responding to future disasters. With further research and implementation, this questionnaire can serve as a model for other countries seeking to strengthen their disaster preparedness efforts and protect their communities.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.7860/jcdr/2016/19894.8337, Alternate LINK

Title: Development And Validation Of A Questionnaire To Measure Iranian Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Regarding Disaster Preparedness

Subject: Clinical Biochemistry

Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH

Publisher: JCDR Research and Publications

Authors: Hamed Tavan

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the main focus of this study regarding Iranian nurses?

The study focuses on the disaster preparedness of Iranian nurses. A new questionnaire was developed and validated to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of these nurses. This is important because nurses are frontline responders during disasters and their preparedness directly impacts the effectiveness of healthcare response. The questionnaire helps identify areas needing improvement, guiding better training and resource allocation.

What specific areas does the questionnaire assess in the context of disaster preparedness for Iranian nurses?

The questionnaire developed for Iranian nurses assesses three key areas: knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP). Knowledge evaluates understanding of disaster management principles and protocols. Attitude measures beliefs and willingness to participate in disaster response. Practice assesses self-reported abilities in essential tasks like triage and wound care. The questionnaire uses a three-point Likert scale to gauge agreement with each item. This holistic approach provides a comprehensive view of the nurses' readiness for disaster scenarios.

Why is the preparedness of Iranian nurses particularly important in the context of disasters?

Disasters, both natural and man-made, are becoming more frequent and devastating. Events like earthquakes and floods test community resilience. The preparedness of healthcare systems, particularly Iranian nurses, is crucial due to the country's vulnerability to various disasters. Well-prepared nurses can significantly reduce casualties and improve outcomes by providing immediate care and support to those affected. This emphasizes the need for effective disaster response and highlights the important role of nurses.

What is the significance of assessing disaster preparedness among Iranian nurses?

The significance of assessing disaster preparedness lies in enhancing the effectiveness of the healthcare system's response to emergencies. The questionnaire developed for Iranian nurses helps by providing a reliable tool to evaluate their current capabilities. By identifying gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice, the study can facilitate targeted interventions, improved training programs, and better resource allocation. This assessment directly supports the goal of creating a more resilient healthcare system that can effectively manage future disasters.

What is the structure of the questionnaire used to assess disaster preparedness among Iranian nurses?

The questionnaire developed includes two parts: the first gathers demographic data such as age, gender, experience, and education level. The second part contains questions to assess knowledge (6 questions), attitude (11 questions), and practice (6 questions). This structure provides a comprehensive assessment by combining personal background with direct evaluation of the core components of disaster preparedness. This approach ensures that both individual attributes and preparedness-related knowledge are thoroughly evaluated.