Community-based intervention study on knowledge and training needs of disaster medicine among local residents in a disaster-prone coastal area of Southern India

Authors

  • Devi Kittu Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry
  • Lalithambigai Chellamuthu Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry
  • Aishwarya Sivasoupramanian Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20191411

Keywords:

Disaster management, Community residents, Costal area, Intervention study, Demand survey

Abstract

Background: A state of preparedness to a natural calamity can considerably mitigate loss of life and property and the human suffering and restore normalcy at the earliest. This study aimed at evaluation of knowledge levels on disaster management among community residents in Puducherry.

Methods: Community based intervention study involving 150 community residents from a disaster affected coastal area was carried out employing convenient sampling. One-to-one interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Intervention through posters, lectures and disaster management mock drills was done. Evaluation was made using the same questionnaire following the intervention. The pre- and post-test evaluation were compared and analysed.

Results: The study showed lower levels of knowledge regarding disaster management. Following the intervention there was a significant rise in the knowledge levels (p<0.005).

Conclusions: This study may be useful for planning future training needs and IEC strategies for the community regarding disaster management.

Author Biographies

Devi Kittu, Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry

Associate professor,
Department of Community Medicine,

Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute

 

Lalithambigai Chellamuthu, Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry

Associate professor, Department of community medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India

Aishwarya Sivasoupramanian, Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry

Intern, Department of community medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India

References

Hawley A, Matheson J. Making sense of disaster medicine: A hands-on guide for medics. 1st edition CRC press; 2010.

Su T, Han X, Chen F, Du Y, Zhang H, Yin J, et al. Knowledge levels and training needs of disaster medicine among health professionals, medical students, and local residents in Shanghai, China. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e67041.

Department of revenue and disaster management: Disaster management Action plan for Flood and cyclone North-east monsoon, 2008. Available at: www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/REV-DMAP-2008.pdf. Accessed on 5 January 2019.

Huntington MK, Gavagan TF. Disaster medicine training in family medicine: a review of the evidence. Family Med. 2011;43(1):13.

Scott LA, Carson DS, Greenwell IB. Disaster 101: a novel approach to disaster medicine training for health professionals. J Emergency Med. 2010;39(2):220-6.

Kaiser HE, Barnett DJ, Hsu EB, Kirsch TD, James JJ, Subbarao I. Perspectives of future physicians on disaster medicine and public health preparedness: challenges of building a capable and sustainable auxiliary medical workforce. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3(4):210-6.

Pfenninger EG, Domres BD, Stahl W, Bauer A, Houser CM, Himmelseher S. Medical student disaster medicine education: the development of an educational resource. Int J Emergency med. 2010;3(1):9-20.

Kaji AH, Coates W, Fung CC. A disaster medicine curriculum for medical students. Teaching Learning Med. 2010;22(2):116-22.

Mahdaviazad H, Abdolahifar G. Assessing household natural disaster preparedness in Shiraz, Iran, 2011: results of a knowledge, attitude, and practices survey. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8(4):349-52.

Al Thobaity A, Plummer V, Innes K, Copnell B. Perceptions of knowledge of disaster management among military and civilian nurses in Saudi Arabia. Australasian Emergency Nursing J. 2015;18(3):156-64.

Alim S, Kawabata M, Nakazawa M. Evaluation of disaster preparedness training and disaster drill for nursing students. Nurse Edu Today. 2015;35(1):25-31.

Fung OW, Loke AY, Lai CK. Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses. J Adv Nur. 2008;62(6):698-703.

Downloads

Published

2019-03-27

How to Cite

Kittu, D., Chellamuthu, L., & Sivasoupramanian, A. (2019). Community-based intervention study on knowledge and training needs of disaster medicine among local residents in a disaster-prone coastal area of Southern India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(4), 1717–1721. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20191411

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles