Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T01:06:16.693Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Designing and Validation of the Nurses’ Preparedness to Response to COVID-19 Questionnaire in Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2021

Simintaj Sharififar
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, Nursing Faculty of AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ramin Hamidi Farahani
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Amir Khoshvaghti
Affiliation:
Aerospace Medicine Research Center, Aerospace and Subaquatic Medicine Faculty, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh*
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh, Email [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

Nurses are considered key members to respond to incidents and disasters. As many patients are hospitalized during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and nurses are directly in contact with these patients; their preparedness enables them to respond to this situation more effectively and protects their health. Therefore, the present study aimed to design and validate a questionnaire to measure the nurses’ preparedness in response to COVID-19 in Iran in 2020.

Methods:

This study was a mixed research aiming to develop and validate a psychometric research instrument in 2020. Based on the review of the literature regarding COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, the items were extracted, rewritten, and validated. In the quantitative phase, the validity of the questionnaire was evaluated in terms of face, content, and construct validity, and its reliability was evaluated based on internal consistency and stability (Cronbach’s alpha and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient [ICC]). To fill out the questionnaire, the nurses were selected by random sampling. Data analysis was done by the SPSS software, version 23 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY).

Results:

The designed questionnaire included 9 dimensions and 50 items. The dimensions included (1) Incident Command System (ICS); (2) risk assessment and management; (3) information and communication management; (4) psychological approaches; (5) personal protective equipment; (6) prevention of contamination, isolation, and quarantine; (7) education and training; (8) patient management; and (9) features of the new coronavirus. The content and face validity of the questionnaire were approved by the specialists and experts of nursing and health in disasters and emergencies. The content validity ratio was > 0.7 for all items. The content validity index was also approved for all items. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and ICC were respectively 0.71 and 0.72 for the total questionnaire. The total score was determined based on 5 ranges, including 50–89 (very low preparedness), 90–129 (low preparedness), 130–170 (medium-level preparedness), 171–210 (high preparedness), and 211–250 (very high preparedness).

Conclusion:

Nurses’ preparedness to respond to this pandemic requires multilateral measures. Measuring the nurses’ preparedness can clarify the challenges in hospital measures taken to respond to this crisis. Evaluating the nurses, determining the challenges and priorities, and finding solutions to resolve them can improve the nurses’ performance in providing health care services. Preparation of nurses during pandemics can reduce the damages to this group and maximize their efforts to protect the patients. Thus, health planners and policy-makers should try to promote the nurses’ awareness and preparedness.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Huang, C, Wang, Y, Li, X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet. 2020;epub.Google Scholar
Zhu, N, Zhang, D, Wang, W, et al. A novel coronavirus from patients with pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;epub.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, N, Zhou, M, Dong, X, et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. Lancet. 2020;epub.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, C, Horby, PW, Hayden, FG, Gao, GF. A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. Lancet. 2020;epub.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lai, C-C, Shih, T-P, Ko, W-C, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19): the epidemic and the challenges. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020;epub:105924.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herold, J, Peavy, J. Bioterrorism: a survey assessing the level of awareness among Alachua County’s physicians. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2002.Google Scholar
Krajewski, MJ, Sztajnkrycer, MD, Baez, AA. Hospital disaster preparedness in the United States: new issues, new challenges. J Disaster Med. 2005;4(2):22-25.Google Scholar
Quigley, DD, Dick, A, Agarwal, M, et al. COVID-19 preparedness in nursing homes in the midst of the pandemic. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020;epub.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davidson, PM, Szanton, SL. Nursing homes and COVID-19: we can and should do better. J Clin Nurs. 2020;epub.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erenler, AK, Güzel, M, Baydin, A. How prepared are we for possible bioterrorist attacks: an approach from emergency medicine perspective. Sci World J. 2018;epub:2018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Auf der Heide, E. Disaster response: principles of preparation and coordination. St. Louis: Mosby; 1989.Google Scholar
Kako, M, Hammad, K, Mitani, S, Arbon, P. Existing approaches to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) education and training for health professionals: findings from an integrative literature review. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(2):182-190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norris, T, Gonzalez, J, Parry, D, et al. The role of e-health in disasters: a strategy for education, training and integration in disaster medicine. J Int Soc Telemed eHealth. 2018;6(1):17.Google Scholar
Considine, J, Mitchell, B. Chemical, biological and radiological incidents: preparedness and perceptions of emergency nurses. Disasters. 2009;33(3):482-497.Google ScholarPubMed
Imai, T, Takahashi, K, Todoroki, M, et al. Perception in relation to a potential influenza pandemic among healthcare workers in Japan: implications for preparedness. J Occup Health. 2008;50(1):13-23.Google ScholarPubMed
Worrall, J. Are emergency care staff prepared for disaster? Emerg Nurs. 2012;19(9).Google Scholar
DeVon, HA, Block, ME, Moyle-Wright, P, et al. A psychometric toolbox for testing validity and reliability. J Nurs Scholars. 2007;39(2):155-164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lacasse, Y, Godbout, C, Series, F. Health-related quality of life in obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur Respir J. 2002;19(3):499-503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ghazaei, S. Principles of diseases. In: Ed T, ed. Work-related Diseases and Complaints. Tehran: Tehran University Press; 1992: 4580.Google Scholar
Pasha Sharifi, H. Introduction of mental challenges in disaster. In: Ed T, ed. Psychometrics and mental verification principles. Tehran: Roshd Publication; 1998: 120143.Google Scholar
Rennie, WH. The role of human resource management and the human resource professional in the new economy [master’s thesis]. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria; 2003.Google Scholar
Wilna, D. The development of a model that incorporates ethics in the recruitment and selection process [master’s thesis]. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria; 2004.Google Scholar
Polit, DF, Beck, CT. The content validity index: are you sure you know what’s being reported? Critique and recommendations. Res Nurs Health. 2006;29(5):489-497.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maben, J, Bridges, J. COVID-19: supporting nurses’ psychological and mental health. J Clin Nurs. 2020;epub.Google Scholar
Kaiser, HF, Rice, J. Little jiffy, mark IV. Educ. Psychol. Meas. 1974;34(1):111-117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, GL, Haber, J. Nursing research; methods, critical appraisal and utilization. St Louis: Mosby; 2004.Google Scholar
Waltz, CF, Strickland, OL, Lenz, ER. Measurement in nursing and health research. New York: Springer; 2010.Google Scholar
Burns, N, Grove, SK. The practice of nursing research. Conduct, critique and utilization. 5th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2005.Google Scholar
Fleiss, JL. Design and analysis of clinical experiments. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley; 2011.Google Scholar
Rebmann, T, Mohr, LB. Missouri nurses’ bioterrorism preparedness. Biosecur Bioterror. 2008;6(3):243-252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, CF, Persell, DJ. Biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorism readiness: major concerns and preparedness of future nurses. Disaster Manag Response. 2004;2(4):109-114.Google ScholarPubMed
Huang, L, Rong Liu, H. Emotional responses and coping strategies of nurses and nursing college students during COVID-19 outbreak. medRxiv. 2020;epub.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cai, W, Lian, B, Song, X, et al. A cross-sectional study on mental health among health care workers during the outbreak of corona virus disease 2019. Asian J Psychiatry. 2020;51:102111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bone, E. Integrating an incident command system and business continuity into a healthcare response to a flu pandemic and other infectious disease emergencies. J Bus Contin Emer Plan. 2006;1(1):80-95.Google Scholar
Bell, DM, Weisfuse, IB, Hernandez-Avila, M, et al. Pandemic influenza as 21st century urban public health crisis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15(12):1963.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koonin, LM, Hanfling, D. Broadening access to medical care during a severe influenza pandemic: the CDC nurse triage line project. Biosecur Bioterror. 2013;11(1):75-80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dong, L, Bouey, J. Public mental health crisis during COVID-19 pandemic, China. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(7).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Darlenski, R, Tsankov, N. COVID-19 pandemic and the skin – what should dermatologists know? Clin Dermatol. 2020;epub.Google Scholar
Griffin, KM, Karas, MG, Ivascu, NS, Lief, L. Hospital preparedness for COVID-19: a practical guide from a critical care perspective. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020;epub.Google Scholar