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Evaluation of Disaster Preparedness and Preparedness Behaviors among Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Study in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2021

Elizabeth M. McCourt Open the ORCID record for Elizabeth M. McCourt [Opens in a new window] ,
Judith A. Singleton Open the ORCID record for Judith A. Singleton [Opens in a new window] ,
Vivienne Tippett  and
Lisa M. Nissen
Elizabeth M. McCourt*
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
Judith A. Singleton
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
Vivienne Tippett
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
Lisa M. Nissen
Affiliation:
School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia
*
Correspondence: Elizabeth M. McCourt, PhD, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, QUT Gardens Point, Q Block Level 9, 2 George Street, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000Australia, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction:

In a disaster aftermath, pharmacists have the potential to provide essential health services and contribute to the maintenance of the health and well-being of their community. Despite their importance in the health care system, little is known about the factors that affect pharmacists’ disaster preparedness and associated behaviors.

Study Objective:

The goal of this study was to determine the factors that influence disaster preparedness behaviors and disaster preparedness of Australian pharmacists.

Methods:

A 70-question survey was developed from previous research findings. This survey was released online and registered Australian pharmacists were invited to participate. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the factors that influenced preparedness and preparedness behaviors among pharmacists.

Results:

The final model of disaster preparedness indicated that 86.0% of variation in preparedness was explained by disaster experience, perceived knowledge and skills, colleague preparedness, perceived self-efficacy, previous preparedness behaviors, perceived potential disaster severity, and trust of external information sources. The final model of preparedness behaviors indicated that 71.1% of variation in previous preparedness behaviors can be explained by disaster experience, perceived institution responsibility, colleague preparedness, perceived likelihood of disaster, perceived professional responsibility, and years of practice as a pharmacist.

Conclusion:

This research is the first to explore the significant factors affecting preparedness behaviors and preparedness of Australian pharmacists for disasters. It begins to provide insight into potential critical gaps in current disaster preparedness behaviors and preparedness among pharmacists.

Keywords

emergency preparednesspharmacistpreparednesspreparedness behaviors
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 354 - 361
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

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