Fundamental Study of Preparedness Consciousness to Disaster of Japanese Hospital Nursing Department

Abstract

Aim: The present study, involving the nursing departments of Japanese hospitals, aimed to examine the status of their preparedness for and awareness of disasters, efforts to address it, and related problems.

Methods: The subjects were people who represent nursing departments of hospitals in Japan. They were asked to respond, on a webpage or by mail, to a questionnaire sent to them. Based on the results of previous studies, a survey of the following items was conducted: the attributes of people in nursing departments, the status of their preparedness for and awareness of disasters, and their attitudes and views.

Ethical considerations: An anonymous survey was conducted with the approval of the research ethics committee of the institute of the principal investigator.

Results: Analysis of 1,986 responses was conducted. The number of disaster base hospitals was 414 (20.8%). Regarding the status of preparedness for disasters in relation to facilities, there were differences in stocks of supplies (91.0%) and organizations to develop measures (77.4%) between the two types of health care institution: hospitals that had/had not been designated as disaster base hospitals.

Conclusion: Although people in the nursing departments of Japanese hospitals had stocks of supplies and manuals to respond to emergency situations, their awareness of disasters was low. Although disaster base hospitals had made greater efforts for preparedness than other health care institutions in general, there were no differences in systems for the dispatch of nursing staff and mental support following the provision of nursing care between the two types of hospital.