EVALUATION OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR DISASTERS IN HOSPITALS

Abstract

Disaster events are quite prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These disaster events place significant pressure on the country’s hospitals and healthcare workers. The objective of this study was to analyse and define hospital disaster preparedness in Saudi Arabia. The study used a survey methodology in which fifty healthcare providers from two leading hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Results indicated that a majority of the respondents (64%) possessed postgraduate degrees, with 88% having more than a year’s experience. Additionally, most of the respondents showed a willingness to work following the occurrence of disaster events. That said, many of the respondents did not know their role during times of disaster. Further, close to two-thirds of the respondents did not know the contents of their hospitals’ disaster preparedness plans. Healthcare workers are willing to help during times of disasters, as such efforts should put towards educating, training and involving staff in hospital emergency management planning.