Disaster Management Competence as Predictors of Disaster Preparedness among Hospital Nurses in Quezon Province, Philippines: Basis for Capacity Building Plan
Marvin C. Jalos *
Graduate School, Wesleyan University, Cabanatuan, Philippines.
Joseph Michael D. Manlutac
Graduate School, Wesleyan University, Cabanatuan, Philippines.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Hospital nurses in disaster-prone areas require competencies that support effective emergency preparedness. Evidence on the relationship between disaster management competence (DMC) and disaster preparedness (DP) among nurses in Quezon Province remains limited.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the level of Disaster Management Competence (DMC) among hospital nurses and determine whether it predicts their level of Disaster Preparedness (DP). The findings were intended to inform evidence-based recommendations that may enhance disaster preparedness programmes in Quezon Province, Philippines.
Methodology: A descriptive-correlational predictive study determined the levels of Disaster Management Competence (DMC) and Disaster Preparedness (DP) among 112 hospital nurses from selected public district hospitals in the fourth district of Quezon Province. Data were gathered using the Nurses’ Perceptions of Disaster Core Competencies (NPDCC) and Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire (EPIQ), and analysed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests, and Spearman’s rho and quantile regression analysis.
Results: Nurses demonstrated a moderate level of DMC (M = 3.24, SD = 0.95), highest in technical skills (M = 3.65, SD = 0.94) and lowest in specialised diagnostic skills (M = 2.88, SD = 1.01), while DP was generally at a moderate level of familiarity (M = 3.13, SD = 0.89), highest in triage (M = 3.57, SD = 0.81) and lowest in the epidemiology and clinical decision-making domain (M = 2.87, SD = 0.99). No significant differences in DMC or DP were observed according to hospital affiliation, area of practice, years of experience and employment status. However, attendance at disaster-related training showed a different pattern, with no significant difference in DMC (p = .530), but a significant difference in DP (U = 968.00, z = -3.15, p = .002). Communication Skills were the most consistent NPDCC domain predicting disaster preparedness. This domain significantly and positively predicted overall disaster preparedness at the 25th quantile (b = 0.37, SE = 0.11, t = 3.25, p = .002, 95% CI [0.14, 0.60]), the median (50th quantile) (b = 0.48, SE = 0.10, t = 4.73, p < .001, 95% CI [0.28, 0.68]), and the 75th quantile (b = 0.43, SE = 0.11, t = 4.09, p < .001, 95% CI [0.22, 0.64]). The pseudo R² values were τ = .25: .39; τ = .50: .35; and τ = .75: .38; VIF values ranged from 2.58 to 4.86.
Conclusion: The results indicate functional but uneven disaster readiness, supporting a capacity-building plan emphasising communication, specialised assessment, critical thinking, and simulation-based training among hospital nurses in Quezon Province.
Keywords: Disaster management competence, disaster preparedness, hospital nurses, disaster nursing, communication skills, emergency preparedness, disaster training