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Household Emergency Preparedness Instrument Development: A Delphi Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2020

Tara N. Heagele Open the ORCID record for Tara N. Heagele [Opens in a new window] ,
Charleen C. McNeill Open the ORCID record for Charleen C. McNeill [Opens in a new window] ,
Lavonne M. Adams  and
Danita M. Alfred
Tara N. Heagele*
Affiliation:
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, New York
Charleen C. McNeill
Affiliation:
College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Lavonne M. Adams
Affiliation:
Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
Danita M. Alfred
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Tara N Heagele, PhD, RN, PCCN, EMT, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College, The City University of New York, Office 427W, 425 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010 (e-mail: th1591@hunter.cuny.edu).
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Abstract

Objective:

The main objective of this research was to generate a consensus on the conceptual definition of household emergency preparedness from experts representing multiple disciplines and countries, in order to facilitate the development of an all-hazards, comprehensive, valid, and reliable instrument.

Methods:

Questions were generated via 3 methods: literature search, using existing instruments, and expert panels using the Delphi technique.

Results:

Panelists (n = 154) representing 36 countries came to a consensus that household emergency preparedness is defined as the completion of several preparedness actions and assembling a kit that can be transported in an evacuation. The new 51-question instrument demonstrates face, content, and criterion validity and internal consistency reliability (α = 0.96). The instrument assesses whether specific preparedness actions have been taken, and the presence or absence of essential supplies that could enable households to safely endure conditions that disasters would likely present (loss of power, water limitations, and/or lack of access to additional supplies for a few days).

Conclusion:

A valid and reliable instrument provides researchers with a replicable approach to assessment of preparedness levels, which is necessary to plan mitigation strategies, enhance health promotion, prevent injuries, and increase resilience for individuals and communities. The instrument can provide evidence to support interventions addressing health needs of community members following a disaster.

Keywords

delphi techniquedisaster medicinedisaster planningdisastersemergency preparedness

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 570 - 582
Copyright
© 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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