Abstract
Purpose.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine medical students’ disaster self-efficacy and willingness to respond to disasters before and after attending an introductory disaster preparedness training program during fall 2023.
Method.
Medical students (eight Year 1 and 18 Year 2) attending a one-day introductory disaster preparedness program that focused on an all-hazard approach and used lecture and applied scenario practice instruction were surveyed pre-post program using a written, four-section questionnaire on their disaster-specific self-efficacy and willingness to respond to disasters. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (v29) and primarily consisted of descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), paired samples t-tests to assess differences in pre-post composite scores, and Mann-Whitney U tests to assess differences in composite scores among demographic variables.
Results.
Respondents reported significantly more positive self-efficacy in response provision (p=.004), willingness to report to work and treat patients (pp=.006).
Conclusion.
To be most effective, disaster preparedness trainings must not only increase knowledge and skills using mastery experiences but also improve the attitude of self-efficacy that may subsequently lead to willingness to respond. For medical students, preparedness skills without conviction and the will to respond in a variety of challenging situations may not lead to successful performance in a disaster.
Recommended Citation
Wagner, Brooke; Washburn, Libby; Visker, Joseph D; and Cox, Carol
(2025)
"Medical students’ disaster-specific self-efficacy and willingness to respond following an introductory preparedness training,"
Health Professions Education: Vol. 11:
Iss.
3, Article 12.
DOI: 10.55890/2452-3011.1353
Available at:
https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol11/iss3/12
