The Effects of Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Drills on The Knowledge, Understanding, and Confidence in Performing Duties of Personnel at Surat Thani Hospital

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study employed a one-group pretest–posttest design. The objective was to examine the effects of an emergency and disaster preparedness exercise on the knowledge, understanding of roles and responsibilities, and confidence in performing duties among 70 personnel at Surat Thani Hospital, selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments consisted of a general information questionnaire, a knowledge assessment on emergency and disaster management, an assessment of understanding of roles and responsibilities and confidence in performing duties, and a satisfaction assessment of the emergency and disaster preparedness exercise. The instruments were validated for content validity, with an S-CVI/Ave of 1.00, and were tested for reliability using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The assessment of understanding of roles and responsibilities and confidence in performing duties yielded a value of 0.84, and the satisfaction assessment yielded a value of 0.88. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, median and standard deviation, and inferential statistics using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with the level of statistical significance set at .05. The results showed that
1. After participating in the emergency and disaster preparedness exercise, the personnel at Surat Thani Hospital had significantly higher scores for knowledge of emergency and disaster management, perceived understanding of roles and responsibilities, and confidence in performing duties than before the exercise (p-value < .001). Knowledge scores increased from median of 6.00 (Q1–Q3 = 5.00–7.00) to 9.00 (Q1–Q3 = 8.00–10.00). Scores for understanding of roles and responsibilities scores increased from a median of 2.60 (Q1–Q3 = 2.40–2.80) to 3.60 (Q1–Q3 = 3.40–3.80) ; and confidence in performing duties scores increased from a median of 2.50 (Q1–Q3 = 2.33–2.67) to 3.50 (Q1–Q3 = 3.33–3.67).
2. The participants’ overall satisfaction with the emergency and disaster preparedness exercise was at a high level (M= 3.76, SD = 0.42)

To enhance personnel knowledge, understanding, and operational confidence, the continuous organization of drills should be promoted—focusing on reviewing roles and responsibilities, decision-making, incident reporting, and coordination under the Incident Command System (ICS) to further build operational confidence.