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Disaster Preparedness Among University Students in Guangzhou, China: Assessment of Status and Demand for Disaster Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2016

Yibing Tan ,
Xiaolan Liao ,
Haihao Su ,
Chun Li ,
Jiagen Xiang  and
Zhaoyang Dong
Yibing Tan*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Xiaolan Liao
Affiliation:
Quantitative Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Haihao Su
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Chun Li
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Jiagen Xiang
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Zhaoyang Dong
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Yibing Tan, MSN, School of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Higher Education Mega City, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China 510006 (e-mail: tanyib@gzucm.edu.cn).
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Abstract

Objective

This study had 2 aims. First, we evaluated the current levels of disaster preparedness among university students in southern China. Second, we assessed students’ demands for future disaster education. In addition, we examined the influence of demographic factors on current disaster preparedness status and demand.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used. The data were collected from 1893 students in 10 universities in the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega (GHEM) center. A self-administered questionnaire developed for this study was administered to assess the current status and demand for disaster education.

Results

The results are based on 1764 valid questionnaires. Among the participants, 77.8% reported having had disaster education experiences before, 85.5% indicated their desire for a systematic disaster course, and 75.4% expressed their willingness to take such a course upon its availability. The total mean score for demand for disaster course content (5-point Likert scale) was 4.17±0.84, with items relating to rescue skills given the highest scores. These results suggested that students had high desires for disaster preparedness knowledge, especially knowledge concerning rescue skills. We observed significant differences in disaster education experiences between male and female students and across programs, school years, and home locations. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in demand for disaster course content between male and female students and across universities, student programs, years of school, and students’ majors.

Conclusion

A systematic disaster course focused on rescue skills is needed by all types of universities. To improve the disaster education system in universities, disaster drills should be performed on a semester basis as a refresher and to enhance disaster preparedness. The government and universities should support building a simulated disaster rescue center and recruit faculty from the emergency department, especially those who have had disaster relief experience. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:310–317)

Keywords

disaster preparednessdisaster educationGuangzhouuniversity students
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , June 2017 , pp. 310 - 317
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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Footnotes

*

These two authors contributed equally.

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