THAI NURSES' LEARNING NEEDS REGARDING DISASTER NURSING: HIGH NEEDS?
ABSTRACT: Disaster nursing has
become a critical concern, worldwide, due to a trend toward management
strategy. However, limited studies are conducted in Thailand where nurses have
faced increasing threat to both natural and man-made disasters.
Purpose: To describe the amounts of learning needs (both expressed and
normative needs) regarding disaster nursing among Thai nurses.
Methods: The sample included 454 registered nurses who have been working
in Thailand for at least six months selected through the multi-stage sampling
methods. Data were collected using questionnaire included the Learning Needs
Regarding Disaster Nursing Questionnaire (LNDNQ), developed based on the
learning needs triangle model and the concept the International Council of
Nurses (ICN) Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies. The LNDNQ was tested
for content validity by three experts and for reliability with 20 nurses using
Cronbach’s alpha coefficient yielding a value of .97 (expressed needs), and .99
(normative needs), respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics.
Result: This study found that the top three contents of the most learning
needs in expressed needs were similarly with the most normative needs which
items were related to mitigation/prevention and response phase. The most
learning needs they expressed were assisting and first aid for victims at the
scene (n=229, 50.4%), followed by basic principle of triage (n=218, 48.0%), and
training of the disaster nursing management plans (n=217, 47.80%). However, the
top least expressed needs were related to mitigation/prevention and
recovery/rehabilitation phase. These were providing an information for
community with the notification, and announcement the severity level of
disaster (n=32, 7.0%), followed by preparing and organizing the evacuation area
for victims (n=37, 8.1%).
Conclusion: The contents related to the most learning needs (expressed
needs and normative needs) regarding disaster nursing must be emphasized in
training course and nursing curriculums in Thailand to improve Thai nurses'
capability in disaster nursing management.
Authror: Kirana
Phakdeechanuan, Praneed Songwathana, Wipa Sae-Sia
Journal Code: jpkeperawatangg150008
