Improving Disaster Management in Saudi Arabia Through Collaborative Exercises and Education for Nurses and Other Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Disasters have increasingly been shown to have consequences that require swift and effective action from both authorities and society. Specifically, coordination, collaboration, and cooperation have proven to be recurring challenges in disaster management. Saudi Arabia, where the data for this thesis have been collected, has been exposed to various types of disasters, such as floods, annual religious events, and an ongoing war on the southern border. This thesis comprises four studies that use both quantitative and qualitative methods with validated tools to investigate whether tabletop exercises can improve the outcome of disaster management among nurses and other healthcare professionals working during disasters in the simulation’s context. Study I utilised a previously used questionnaire to examine the level of knowledge among healthcare professionals tasked with disaster management. The study found that disaster preparedness was knowledge-dependent, with knowledge being associated with confidence and preparedness. In Studies II and III, tabletop exercises were conducted. A questionnaire (CLU) was used to assess how collaboration enables learning that can be applied at the practical and operational levels. Moreover, another tool (CSCATTT) was used to examine how different collaboration factors facilitate crisis management. The findings demonstrate that the exercises improved practical skills, self-confidence, and the ability to create multi-professional teams, as well as promoting team integration and maturity among personnel. The first three sub-studies were followed by a Delphi study, wherein several experts were interviewed about the role of exercises in the existing disaster medical curriculum in Saudi Arabia. This study revealed the need to strengthen the curriculum with simulation exercises. This thesis emphasises the importance of collaboration exercises involving all personnel engaged in the management of medical issues following an event. The study highlights that increased knowledge and skills enhance self-confidence to work in critical situations. Additionally, tabletop exercises can develop collaboration among authorities and should be integrated into the current disaster medical curriculum in Saudi Arabia.