Integrating Inter-Professional Insights for Enhanced Disaster Response: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Jubail’s Royal Commission Hospital, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate disaster preparedness and management among an inter-professional team at the Royal Commission Hospital (RCH) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

Conducted between May and July 2023, this cross-sectional study involved healthcare providers in both patient-facing and non-patient-facing roles. Participants responded to a comprehensive online questionnaire comprising 22 questions across seven sections covering aspects of emergency response, disaster management, and infection control. The study targeted a minimum sample size of 500 participants, successfully garnering responses from 512 individuals.

Results

Of the 512 participants, 59.9% (n=312) were healthcare providers in patient-facing roles, and 40.1% (n=209) were in non-patient-facing roles. The results revealed notable disparities in awareness and preparedness between these two groups. Healthcare providers demonstrated higher awareness levels compared to their non-patient-facing counterparts. For instance, 76.9% of healthcare providers were aware of the hospital’s emergency response plan compared to 56.2% of non-healthcare providers (χ² = 52.165, p < 0.001). Similar disparities were observed in understanding the term “disaster” (86.5% vs 54.1%, χ² = 27.931, p < 0.001), and awareness of a command center (73.4% vs 45.2%, χ² = 42.934, p < 0.001).

Discussion

These findings underscore the critical need for enhancing awareness, education, and preparedness within healthcare facilities, emphasizing an integrated approach that includes both healthcare and non-healthcare staff. By addressing these gaps, healthcare facilities can significantly improve their emergency response efficiency, disaster management capabilities, and infection control measures, thereby enhancing the overall safety and quality of patient care.

Keywords:

• disaster preparedness
• emergency response
• inter-professional collaboration
• healthcare management
• infection control
• emergency medicine training
• patient safety
• cross-sectional analysis

Institutional Review Board Statement

The Institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained from the King Saud University Research and Ethics Committee (Ref No: KSU-HE-23-044).

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Informed Consent Statement

The information included the study’s purpose, the voluntary nature of their participation, and strict confidentiality and secure data storage. The survey had anonymous nature and all respondents agreed to participate in the survey. Written consent was obtained from participants who completed the online questionnaire.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to extend their appreciation to King Saud University for funding this work through the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSPD2024R649), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.