Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal (2013) 16, 5257

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jo u r n al hom epage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aen j
RESEAR! "A"ER
Australasian emergency nurses willingness to attend work in a disaster:
A survey
Paul Arbon, RN, PhD, A!N
a
"amie Ranse, RN, #N, $!ert!lin%d, $!ert!lin%&i, '!rit!arNurs,
PhD(!andidate), A!N, !%NA
a,b,

*ynette !usack, RN, PhD, '+A, #N, Di&A&&,c(Nurs)

c
"ulie !onsidine, RN, R', #N, $Di&Nurs, $!ert+igher%d, 'N, PhD,
A!N, !%NA
d
Ramon -. ,haban, RN, !/!P, %'01P, PhD, A!N, !%NA
e
Richard ". 2oodman, PhD
3
*aura #ahnisch, #A, $radDi&*ib, $radDi&2om,tud, ',2
a
'ayumi 4ako, RN, PhD, 'A!N
a
4aren +ammad, RN, #N(+ons), $Di&%mergNsg
a
#elinda 'itchell, RN, $!ert%merg, $Di&+lth'gt, 'N, 'A!N
g
a
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia
#
Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Australia
c
Adelaide University, Australia
$
Deakin University, ictoria, Australia
e
!esearch Centre for Clinical and Co""unity #ractice $nnovation, %rif&th Health $nstitute,
%rif&th
University, 'ueensland, Australia
%
Flinders Centre for ()ide"iology and *iostatistics, School of Medicine, Flinders University,
Australia
g
Northern Health, ictoria, Australia
Recei&e$ 1 No&em#er 2012' recei&e$ in re&ise$ %orm 1( A)ril 2013' acce)te$ * +ay 2013
4%526R
D,
,isasters' +ass casualty inci$ents'
,
u
m
m
a
r
y
*ackground+ -.e ty)e o% $isaster, in$i&i$ual $emogra).ic %actors,
%amily %actors an$ /or01 )lace %actors, .a&e #een i$enti2e$ in t.e
international, multi$isci)linary literature as %actors t.at in2uence
a )erson3s /illingness to atten$ an$ assist in t.eir /or0)lace
$uring a $isas1 te r 4 !o/e&e r , it is un0no/n i% t.ese %actors
are a))lica#le to Australasian emergency nurses4

orres)on$ing aut.or at5 6aculty o% !ealt., 7ni&ersity o% an#erra, Australia4 -el45 8(1 9392:1*194
(,"ail addresses+ ;amie<;ameiranse4com, ;amie4ranse<can#erra4e$u4au (J4 Ranse)4
15791(2(7=> see %ront matter ? 2013 ollege o% Emergency Nursing Australasia @t$4
"u#lis.e$ #y Else&ier @t$4 All rig.ts reser&e$4
.tt)5==$A4$oi4org=104101(=;4aen;420134054003
Billingness to atten$ /or0 in a $isaster
53
Nurses'
Emergency
nursing'
Australia'
Billingness
Ai"+ -.e researc. aims to $etermine t.e eAtent to /.ic.
Australasian emergency nurses are /illing to atten$ t.eir
/or0)lace in a $isaster4
Method+ -.is researc. /as eA)loratory an$ $escri)ti&e stu$y $esign,
using online an$ )a)er #ase$ sur&eys as a means o% $ata collection4
Australasian emergency nurses %rom t/o Australasian emergency
nursing colleges an$ %our Australian .os)itals /ere recruite$ to
)artici)ate4 ,ata analysis /as con$ucte$ using #ot. $escri)ti&e an$
in%erential statistics4
!esults+ Cn total, 951 Australasian emergency nurses )artici)ate$
in t.is researc.4 "artici)ants /ere more /illing to atten$ t.eir
/or0)lace $uring a con&entional $isaster () 04001), i% t.ey
/or0e$ %ull1time () D 0401), .a$ recei&e$ %ormal e$ucation
)ertaining to $isasters () 04001), .a$
a %amily $isaster )lan () D 0400:), $i$ not .a&e c.il$ren () D 04001)
an$ /or0e$ in an en&ironment in /.ic. t.ey )ercei&e$ t.eir
colleagues, managers an$ organisation to #e )re)are$4
Conclusions+ -.e %actors t.at in2uence$ Australasian emergency
nurses to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster /ere similar to t.at
$escri#e$ in t.e international multi$isci)linary literature4 E%
)articular note, im)ro&ing $isaster 0no/le$ge an$ s0ills, .a&ing a
%amily $isaster )lan an$ im)ro&1 ing t.e )erce)tions o% t.e nurses3
/or0)lace )re)are$ness can en.ance t.e nurses3 /illingness to
assist in a $isaster4
? 2013 ollege o% Emergency Nursing Australasia @t$4
"u#lis.e$ #y Else&ier @t$4 All rig.ts
reser&
e$4
2hat is known
Billingness o% emergency nurses can
#e eA)resse$ in t.e #roa$ areas o% t.e
ty)es o% $isasters, in$i&i$ual
$emogra).ic %actors, %amily %actors
an$ /or0)lace %actors4

!ealt.care )ro%essionals3 /illingness literature is
)re$ominantly $eri&e$ %rom $ata t.at
relates to
an international, inter$isci)linary
rat.er t.an Aus1 tralasian nursing
)ers)ecti&es4
2hat this &a&er adds
6ormal )ostgra$uate e$ucation
en.ances t.e /ill1 ingness o%
emergency nurses to atten$ /or0 in a
$isaster4

En.ancing t.e )erce)tion o% an organisation an$
colleague3s rea$iness %or $isaster
en.ances t.e /ill1
ingness o% sta%% to atten$ /or0 in a
$isaster4

Billingness is not in2uence$ #y /or0)lace %actors
suc. as t.e )artici)ant3s .os)ital siFe
(#e$ num1
#ers) nor t.e .os)ital locality
(metro)olitan, rural or remote)4
$isaster e&ent3 is an e&ent suc. as a
)an$emic, c.emi1 cal, #iological or
ra$iological4 -.ere is a .ig.er /illingness
to /or0 $uring con&entional e&ents /.en
com)are$ to non1con&entional e&ents4
3(
oncerning non1con&entional e&ents,
/illingness a))ears to #e .ig.er i% t.e
)at.ogen is 0no/n, )re&enta#le an$
treata#le4
7,:
Cn terms o% $emogra).ic %actors an$
/illingness, males are more /illing to
atten$ t.eir /or0)lace $uring a $isaster
t.an %emales4
9,5,:12
A$$itionally, t.e ty)e
an$ amount o% $isaster 0no/le$ge in2
uences an in$i&i$ual3s /illingness to
atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster4
13,19
-.is is )articularly true %or non1
con&entional $isasters, /.ic. $ecrease
/illing1 ness to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in
a $isaster4
:,15
Em)loyment status also in2
uences /illingness to atten$ /or0 in a
$isaster /it. )art1time /or0ers less li0ely to
atten$ t.eir /or0 $uring a $isaster /.en
com)are$ to t.eir %ull1time colleagues4
11,1(
Billingness to atten$ /or0 $uring a
$isaster is increase$ i% an in$i&i$uals3
)ercei&e$ t.reat o% ill .ealt. to t.eir %am1
ilies is re$uce$4
11,1720
A$$itionally, t.e care
o% c.il$ren, )ets, an$ el$ers is o% )articular
im)ortance, creating a sig1 ni2cant #arrier
to /illingness to atten$ t.eir /or0 $uring a
$isaster4
9(,:,10,11,17,1*29
Bor0)laces can in2uence t.e /illingness o%
in$i&i$uals,
an$ s)eci2cally emergency nurses, to atten$
/or0 in a $isas1 ter4 Cna$eGuate .os)ital
$isaster )lans result in a lac0 o% sta%% con2
$ence in .os)ital )re)are$ness, /.ic.
su#seGuently .as
20
/ntroduction
a negati&e in2uence on /illingness to
atten$ /or04
,urin
g
Emergency +anagement Australia #roa$ly
$e2nes a $isas1 ter as a serious $isru)tion to
a community causing $eat., in;ury an$=or
)ro)erty $amage reGuiring mo#ilisation an$
organisation o% resources #eyon$ t.at o% a
normal $ay1to1$ay o)erational ca)acity4
1
Australasian emergency nurses are %rontline
res)on$ers to $isasters an$ are essential to
.ealt.1 #ase$ res)onse an$ reco&ery4
2
6un$amental to in$i&i$ual, community an$
societal reco&ery %rom $isasters is emer1
gency nurses3 /illingness to engage in
$isaster res)onse4 -.ere is some literature
on emergency nurses /illingness to atten$
t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster4
A Hcon&entional $isaster e&ent3 is an
e&ent suc. as an eart.Gua0e, 2re or 2oo$4
B.ereas a Hnon1con&entional
t.e !
1
N
1
200* )an$emic in Australia, more t.an one t.ir$
o% emergency $e)artment sta%% #ecame ill
/it. in2uenFa1
li0e sym)toms resulting in an a&erage o% 347
$ays a/ay %rom /or0 %or eac. ill sta%%
mem#er4
25
,igni7cance and
aim
Ct is not 0no/n /.et.er t.e a#o&e1
mentione$ %actors a))ly to Australasian
emergency nurses3 /illingness to atten$
t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster4 7n$erstan$ing
t.e in2uences on /illingness to atten$ /or0
$uring a $isaster /ill .a&e /or0%orce
im)lications an$ /ill ena#le .ealt. ser&ices
to )ut in )lace strategies to maintain su%2
cient an$ a))ro1 )riate ser&ices $uring or
%ollo/ing a $isaster4 A$$itionally,
Billingness to atten$ /or0 in a $isaster
5
researc. relate$ to t.e /illingness o% nurses
s)eci2cally is lac0ing in t.e )u#lis.e$
literature /it. many )a)ers %ocuse$ on a
&ariety o% .ealt.care )ro%essionals rat.er
t.an nurses s)eci2cally4
-.e aim o% t.is researc. /as to $etermine
t.e eAtent to /.ic. Australasian emergency
nurses are /illing to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace
in a $isaster, )articularly in terms o% e$u1
cational )re)are$ness an$ t.eir 0no/le$ge
o% $isasters, an$ t.eir )ro%essional an$
)ersonal res)onsi#ilities4
'ethod
Desig
n
-.is researc. use$ an eA)loratory an$
$escri)ti&e $esign
2(
an$ stu$y $ata /as collecte$
using a sur&ey4
Po&ulation and
sam&le
-.e researc.e$ )o)ulation /ere Australasian
emergency nurses4 -.e researc. sam)le
inclu$e$ mem#ers o% eit.er t.e ollege o%
Emergency Nursing Australasia (ENA) or
Australian ollege o% Emergency Nursing
(AEN) /.o .a$ current e1mail a$$resses
/it. t.ese olleges4 A$$itionally, t.e sam)le
inclu$e$ emergency nurses em)loye$ in t.e
emergency $e)artments %rom %our Australian
.os)itals eac. %rom a $i%%erent state or
territory4
/nstrument
design
No eAisting )u#lis.e$ an$ &ali$ate$ tool /as
locate$ t.at /as suita#le %or t.is stu$y4 As
suc., a sur&ey tool /as $e&el1 o)e$ #ase$ on
t.e )ro%essional eA)ertise o% t.e researc.
team an$ t.emes %rom t.e eAisting
literature4 ontent an$ %ace &ali$ity /as
esta#lis.e$ %ollo/ing a re&ie/ o% t.e sur1
&ey #y a )anel o% eA)erts in emergency
.ealt. care an$ $isaster res)onse4 -.e
sur&ey /as )ilote$ on 21 emergency nurses
%rom t/o Australian .os)itals4 -.e results o%
t.is )ilot /ere summarise$, $iscusse$ #y t.e
researc. team an$ minor amen$ments /ere
ma$e to tool in res)onse to comments %rom
t.e )ilot4
Partici&ant
recruitment
ENA an$ AEN $istri#ute$ t.e sur&ey &ia e1
mail to a))roAi1 mately :00 an$ 520
mem#ers res)ecti&ely4 A$$itionally, %our
Australian .os)itals $istri#ute$ t.e sur&ey to
emergency nurses using local e1mail, sta%%
intranet systems an$ sta%% notice#oar$s4
Data
collection
Enline sur&eys are rea$ily $istri#ute$, easy
to com)lete an$ o#&iate researc.er #ias4
27
-.e sur&ey use$ in t.is researc. /as
$esigne$ to #e #rie%, ta0ing less t.an 10 min
to com1 )lete4 Remar0 Be# Sur&ey Iersion
9
-+
, a secure online sur&ey /as use$ at all
recruitment sites4 A$$itionally, t/o .os)itals
electe$ to $istri#ute t.e sur&ey using a
)a)er &er1 sion4 -.e )a)er &ersion /as
com)lete$ #y )artici)ants an$
6
"4 Ar#on et al4
returne$ to a secure loc0e$ #oA /it.in t.e
)artici)ant3s /or0)lace4
Data
analysis
-.e c.aracteristics o% t.e )artici)ants /ere
eA)lore$ using $escri)ti&e statistics4
7ni&ariate associations #et/een t.e o&erall
/illingness to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster an$ t.e c.aracteristics o% t.e
)artici)ants /ere assesse$ using c.i1sGuare$
tests o% association4 -.e /illingness o%
emergency nurses to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace
$uring one or more $i%%erent ty)es o%
$isaster e&ents /as assesse$ using miAe$
e%%ects logistic regression mo$els4 -.e
$e)en$ent &aria#le %or t.ese mo$els /as t.e
/illingness to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace (yes or
no) an$ t.e in$e)en$ent &aria#les, t.e ty)e
o% e&ent, an$ t.e $emogra).ic &aria#le o%
interest4 ,ata /ere analyse$ using S-A-A
&ersion 1141 (200*)4
Protection o3 human
&artici&ants
Et.ics a))ro&al to con$uct t.is researc. /as
grante$ #y t.e %our Australian .os)ital, as
/ell as t.e aut.or3s a%2liate$ institutions4
-.e researc. /as con$ucte$ in accor$ance
/it. t.e a))ro&e$ )rotocol an$ t.ere /ere
no /it.$ra/als or com)laints recei&e$4
Sur&eys /ere anonymous an$ consent /as
im)lie$ /.en )artici)ants com)lete$ an$
returne$ t.eir sur&ey4
Results
Cn total, 951 )artici)ants com)lete$ t.e
sur&ey4 -.e mean age (S,) o% )artici)ants
/as 3*4: (*471) years4 -.e ma;or1
ity o% t.e )artici)ants /ere %emale (n
D 373, :9J)4
0y&e o3
disaster
-.e o&er/.elming ma;ority o% )artici)ants
re)orte$ a /ill1 ingness to atten$ t.eir
/or0)lace in a $isaster4 -.ere /as some
$i%%erence in t.eir /illingness /it. res)ect
to atten$ing t.eir /or0)lace in a
con&entional (n D 925, *747J) an$ non1
con&entional (n D 391, :(43J) $isaster4 -.e
o$$s o% emergency nurses #eing /illing to
atten$ t.eir /or0)lace $uring a con&entional
$isaster /as 234* times .ig.er t.an t.e o$$s
o% #eing /illing to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in
a non1con&entional $isasters (ER D 234*, *5J
C D 104:5524:,
)

04001)4
/ndividual demogra&hic
3actors
Ken$er $i$ not in2uence )artici)ants3
/illingness to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster (
2
D 04*9, 1$%, ) D 0433)4 Cn total,
*242J o% /omen (n D 1(50) an$ *247J o% men
(n D 320) re)orte$ t.eir /illingness to atten$
/or0 $uring a $isas1 ter4 A$$itionally,
)artici)ants3 /illingness to atten$ /or0
$uring a $isaster /as not in2uence$ #y t.eir
em)loyment classi2cation, %or eAam)le
enrolle$ nurse (n D 19, 341J), reg1 istere$
nurse (n D 229, 9*47J) or clinical nurse
s)ecialist (n D :*, 1*47J) (
2
D 7402, 3$%, ) D
0407)4 !o/e&er, )artici1 )ants /.o /or0e$
more t.an 045 %ull1time eGui&alent (6-E), #ut
not %ull1time /ere 34: times more /illing to
atten$
t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster (ER D 34:' *5J
C D 141712455, ) D 0403) an$ t.ose
/or0ing %ull1time /ere 94: times more
/illing to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster (ER D 94:' *5J C D 1499154:5 ) D
0401) t.an t.ose /or0ing less t.an 045
6-E (ER D 2411' *5J C D 04:*5409, ) D
040:*)4 Enly 124*J (n D 5:) o% )artici)ants
/or0e$ less t.an 045 %ull time eGui&1 alent4
-.ere /as no association #et/een
)artici)ants3 /ill1 ingness to atten$ /or0
$uring a $isaster an$ le&el o% Guali2cation,
suc. as .a&ing a .os)ital certi2cate (n D 32,
741J), #ac.elor $egree (n D 105, 2343J) or
)ostgra$uate Guali2cation (n D 19:, 324:J)
(ER D 149, *5J C D 04*242' ) D 041:)4
!o/e&er, nurses /ere more t.an %our times
li0ely to #e /illing to atten$ /or0 $uring a
$isaster i% t.ey .a$ s0ills an$=or 0no/le$ge
in $isasters (ER D 945, *5J
C D 1431(40' )

04001)4 Nearly .al% o% t.e )artici)ants
(n D 217, 9:42J) in$icate$ t.at t.ey .el$ a
Guali2cation t.at
containe$ some $isaster content, suc. as a
Guali2cation in emergency nursing,
)arame$icine, in%ectious $iseases, $isaster
management or )u#lic .ealt.4 "artici)ants
/.o .el$ a Guali2cation t.at inclu$e$
$isaster content, /ere more t.an t/o times
more li0ely to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster t.an t.ose /.o $i$ not .ol$ suc. a
Guali2ca1 tion (ER D 24(2' *5J C D 1411
(41*, ) D 0402:)4 +ore t.an t.ree1Guarters
(n D 3:9, :541J) o% )artici)ants .a$ com1
)lete$ a $isaster1course suc. as a .os)ital
e$ucation session, military training, +C++S
or AC+S4 B.ile not statistically signi2cant,
t.is e$ucation .a$ a ten$ency to )ositi&ely
in2u1 ence t.eir /illingness to atten$ t.eir
/or0)lace in a $isaster (ER D 2411' *5J C D
04:*5409, ) D 040:*)4
amily
3actors
-.e ma;ority o% )artici)ants (n D 317,
724*J) re)orte$ t.at t.ey $i$ not .a&e an
emergency )lan %or t.emsel&es an$
em)loyers, /ere )re)are$ %or a $isaster (ER
D 24((, *5J C D 1475940(, ) 04001)4
Discussio
n
-.is researc. a$$s to t.e un$erstan$ing o%
Australasian emergency nurses3 /illingness
to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster, an$
t.e %actors t.at in2uence t.is /illingness4
7n$erstan$ing t.ese %actors )ro&i$es insig.t
into t.e /or01 %orce im)lications an$ areas
o% %ocus %or .ealt. ser&ices to maintain su%2
cient an$ a))ro)riate ser&ices $uring or %ol1
lo/ing a $isaster4 E&erall, Australasian
emergency nurses3 are .ig.ly /illing to
atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster4
!o/e&er, t.e ty)e o% $isaster, in$i&i$ual
$emogra).ic %ac1 tors, %amily %actors an$
/or0)lace %actors, in2uence$ t.eir
/illingness4
0y&e o3
disaster
"artici)ants /ere more /illing to atten$
/or0 in a con1 &entional $isaster /.en
com)are$ to non1con&entional $isasters4
-.ese results are consistent /it. t.e
international multi$isci)linary literature4
3
(,19
A )ossi#le eA)lanation %or t.is 2n$ing is
t.at con&entional $isasters are more
localise$ an$ &isi#le, /.ereas non1
con&entional $isasters are not4
(
Strategies to increase t.e /illingness o%
nurses to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace $uring
non1con&entional $isasters t.at may
consi$ere$ #y .ealt. ser&ices an$ )olicy
ma0ers may inclu$e a&aila#ility o%
a))ro)riate treatment, )ro).ylaAis an$
a))ro)riate in%ection control measures4
9,:,15,21
/ndividual demogra&hic
3actors
2:
t.eir %amilies4 -.e o$$s o% )artici)ants /it. a $isaster )lan
Cn Australia *04(J o% nurses are %emale4 !o/e&er, gen1
#eing /illing to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster /ere
7479 times .ig.er t.an t.e o$$s o% nurses
/.o $i$ not .a&e $isaster )lan (ER D 7479,
*5J C D 1472394*9, ) D 0400:)4
$er $i$ not in2uence t.e /illingness o%
)artici)ants o% t.is
researc. to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster4 -.is 2n$ing is $i%%erent to t.at o%
ot.er stu$ies t.at i$enti2e$ males to
9,5,:12
Cn terms o% li&ing arrangements, 3*49J (n
D 17() o% )ar1 tici)ants li&e$ /it. c.il$ren,
39J (n D 152) li&e$ /it. a )artner=s)ouse
an$ .a$ no c.il$ren, /.ilst 2(4(J (n D 11*)
o% )artici)ants li&e$ alone or /it. ot.er
%amily=%rien$s4 -.e .ig.est )ro)ortion o%
)artici)ants un/illing to atten$ t.eir
#e more /illing to atten$ in a $isaster t.an %emales4
-.e eA)lanation %or t.is is $i%2cult to
$etermine an$ reGuires %urt.er
in&estigation4
-.is researc. concurs /it. )re&ious
researc. t.at nurses /.o /or0 )art1time are
less li0ely to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace
11,1(
/or0)lace in a $isaster /ere t.ose /.o li&e$ /it. c.il$ren
$uring a $isaster t.an t.ose /.o /or0 %ull1time4 -.ere
(
2
D 3747, 2$%, ) D
L04001)4
2ork&lace
3actors
Billingness /as not in2uence$ #y t.e siFe o%
a )artici)ants3 .os)ital o% em)loyment
(ER D 04*1' *5J C D 04(11439, ) D 04(3)4
"artici)ants3 State or -erritory (
2
D :495,
7$%, ) D 042*), an$ t.eir .os)ital setting
suc. as a ter1 tiary, ur#an, rural an$
regional .os)ital (
2
D 04(:, 3$%' ) D 04::)
$i$ not in2uence t.eir /illingness to
atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster4
!o/e&er, )artici)ants /ere more /illing to
atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster i% t.ey
)ercei&e$ t.at t.eir nursing colleagues (ER
D 24(3,
*5J C D 14((9415, )

04001), managers (ER D 2409, *5J
C D 143(3407, ) D 04001), me$ical an$
allie$ .ealt. col1 leagues (ER D 24(0, *5J C
D 14(:9403, ) 04001) an$ t.eir
are a num#er o% )ossi#ilities to eA)lain
t.is 2n$ing, /.ic.
.as not #een eA)lore$ in $etail in t.e
$isaster /illingness literature, suc. as t.e
relations.i) #et/een /or0ing )art1 time as
a nurse in an emergency $e)artment an$
.a&ing %amily res)onsi#ilities or ot.er
commitments4
-.e results %rom t.is researc. su))ort
t.e notion t.at nurses3 /it. s0ills an$
0no/le$ge relate$ to $isas1 ters increase
/illingness to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in
$isasters4
:,1315,2*
!o/e&er, concerns a#out
t.e %reGuency an$ ty)e o% $isaster training
an$ e$ucation among Aus1 tralasian
emergency nurses .a&e #een raise$4
3032
-.is
/as eAem)li2e$ in a stu$y o% Australasian
emergency nurses .ig.lig.ting t.at on
a&erage $isaster training /as last recei&e$
1*42 mont.s )rior to t.at researc. $ata
collection4
7
As suc., $isaster relate$ content s.oul$ #e
inclu$e$ in %or1 mal Guali2cations an$ more
%reGuent in%ormal courses an$ .os)ital
e$ucation sessions s.oul$ #e con$ucte$ to
en.ance
t.e /illingness o% emergency nurses to
atten$ t.eir /or01 )lace in a $isaster4
amily
3actors
-.is researc. .as $emonstrate$ t.at
)artici)ants /it. a %amily $isaster )lan /ere
eig.t times more /illing to atten$ t.eir
/or0)lace in a $isaster4 -.is is consistent
/it. ot.er researc. stu$ies t.at s.o/ nurses
/.o .a&e .ig.er )er1 sonal )re)are$ness,
suc. as a .ome $isaster )lan, .a&e
corres)on$ingly .ig.er le&els o% /illingness
to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a $isaster4
5,33
Nurses s.oul$ #e acti&ely encour1 age$ to
$e&elo) %amily an$ )ersonal $isaster )lans4
arer res)onsi#ilities %or c.il$ren /as a
0ey %actor t.at $ecrease$ emergency nurses3
/illingness to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster4 -.is 2n$ing is consistent /it. )re1
&iously )u#lis.e$ literature t.at s.o/s
.ealt.care /or0ers /.o .a&e $e)en$ent
c.il$ren are less /illing to /or0 $ur1 ing a
$isaster /.en com)are$ to t.ose /it.out
$e)en$ent c.il$ren4
9,:,10,11,23
4 6amily is a
concern %or .ealt.care )ro1 %essionals' as
suc. it is o% little sur)rise t.at t.e )ercei&e$
a#ility or ina#ility to communicate /it.
%amily an$ %rien$s, )articularly $uring
)erio$s o% Guarantine or eAten$e$ s.i%ts, in2
uences /illingness to atten$ /or0)lace in a
$isaster4
(,29
2ork&lace
3actors
"artici)ants in t.is researc. /ere more
/illing to atten$ t.eir /or0)lace in a
$isaster i% t.ey )ercei&e$ t.eir nursing
colleagues, managers, me$ical an$ allie$
.ealt. colleagues, an$ em)loyers /ere
)re)are$ %or $isaster res)onse4 -.is 2n$ing is
congruent /it. ot.er stu$ies in /.ic.
/illingness is in2uence$ #y t.e )ercei&e$
le&el o% .os)ital )re)are$ness4
20
As suc., organisations s.oul$ increase t.e
)erce)tions o% $isaster )re)are$ness
amongst sta%% using a&aila#le $isaster
)re)are$ness c.ec0lists or action car$s,
un$erta0ing routine $isaster eAercise, an$
.a&ing &isi#le $isaster )lans4
*imitation
s
-.e ma;or limitation o% t.is stu$y /as
selection #ias4 -.e )artici)ants in t.is
researc. /ere a sel%1selecting con&enience
sam)le recruite$ %rom t.e t/o Australasian
emergency nursing olleges an$ %rom %our
Australian .os1 )itals4 -.ere%ore, t.e
generalisa#ility o% t.e stu$y 2n$ings to all
Australasian emergency nurses is limite$4
!onclusion
-.is researc. is t.e 2rst Australasian researc.
o% t.e %ac1 tors t.at in2uence t.e /illingness
o% Australasian emergency nurses to atten$
/or0 in a $isaster4 -.is researc. .as .ig.1
lig.te$ t.at /illingness can #e in2uence$ #y
t.e ty)e o% $isaster, in$i&i$ual $emogra).ic
%actors an$ /or0)lace %ac1 tors4 "otentially,
in$i&i$uals, %amilies an$ /or0)laces can in2
uence t.eir /illingness #y .a&ing im)ro&e$
%ormal $isas1 ter 0no/le$ge an$ s0ills,
.a&ing a %amily $isaster )lan an$ im)ro&ing
t.e )erce)tion o% /or0)lace )re)are$ness4
Author
contributions
All aut.ors /ere res)onsi#le %or t.e researc.
conce)tion, $esign an$ im)lementation o%
t.is researc. )ro;ect4 All aut.ors contri#ute$
to t.e inter)retation o% t.e researc. 2
n$ings4 JR, @ an$ @M $e&elo)e$ t.e initial
)u#lication outline4 JR /rote t.e 2rst $ra%t
manuscri)t4 All aut.ors re&ie/e$ t.e ma$e
critical re&isions %or im)ortant intellec1 tual
content an$ a))ro&e$ t.e 2nal manuscri)t4
unding
-.is researc. /as )artially su))orte$
t.roug. a 6lin$ers 7ni&ersity, Cn$ustry
"artners.i) Krant4 A$$itional in10in$ su))ort
to com)lete t.is )ro;ect /as )ro&i$e$ #y t.e
aut.ors &arious institutions4
Provenance and con7ict o3
interest
-.e %ollo/ing aut.ors .ol$ e$itorial )ositions
/it.in t.e Australasian Emergency Nursing
Journal5 Ramon S.a#an is E$itor1in1.ie%'
Julie onsi$ine is ,e)uty E$itor' an$ Jamie
Ranse is Associate E$itor (,isasters)4 Aut.ors
S.a#an, onsi$ine an$ Ranse .a$ no role to
)lay in t.e e$itorial man1 agement, )eer
re&ie/ or e$itorial $ecision1ma0ing relate$
to t.e )a)er /.atsoe&er4 Naren !amma$ is a
com)any $irec1 tor o% t.e ollege o%
Emergency Nursing Australasia, /.ic. o/ns
t.e Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal,
an$ .a$ no role in t.e e$itorial
management, )eer re&ie/ or e$itorial
$ecision1ma0ing o% t.is )a)er4 -.ere are no
ot.er com)eting interests4 -.is )a)er /as
not commissione$4
Re3erence
s
14 Emergency +anagement Australia4
Australian e"ergency "an, age"ent
glossary 4 an#erra5 Attorney1Keneral3s
,e)artment, Australian Ko&ernment'
1**:4
24 !amma$ N, Ar#on " , Ke##ie N4
Emergency nurses an$ $isaster res)onse5
an eA)loration o% Sout. Australian
emergency nurses3 0no/le$ge an$
)erce)tions o% t.eir roles in $isaster
res)onse4 Aust ("erg Nurs -
2011'18(2)5:7*94
34 one ,, ummings M4 !os)ital $isaster
sta%2ng5 i% you call, /ill t.ey come2 A" -
Disast Med 200(' 1 (1)52:3(4
94 Ste%%en , +asterson @, .ristos S,
Nor$ic0 +4 B illingness to res)on$5 o%
emergency $e)artment )ersonnel an$
t.eir )re1 $icte$ )artici)ation in mass
casualty terrorist e&ents4 - ("erg Med
200*'96(1)593*4
54 Oures.i N, Kers.on RR, S.erman +6,
Strau# - , Ke##ie E, +col1 lum +, et al4
!ealt. care /or0ers3 a#ility an$
/illingness to re)ort to $uty $uring
catastro).ic $isasters4 - Urban Health
2005':;(3)537:::4
(4 Smit. E, Mur0le Jr 6+, Arc.er 6@4
"arame$ics3 )erce)tions o% ris0 an$
/illingness to /or0 $uring $isasters4 Aust
- ("erg Manage 200*';8 (3)52174
74 onsi$ine J, +itc.ell M4 .emical,
#iological an$ ra$iological inci$ents5
)re)are$ness an$ )erce)tions o%
emergency nurses4 Disasters
200*' 99 (3)59:2*74
:4 Krimes ,E, +en$ias E"4 Nurses3
intentions to res)on$ to #ioter1 rorism
an$ ot.er in%ectious $isease emergencies4
Nurs .utlook
2010'<:(1)510(4
*4 Mutsas.&ili +, -riner B, Nam0ami$Fe K,
Na;aia +, +cNutt @A4
/nowledge and antici)ated behavior of
health care workers
in res)onse to an outbreak of )ande"ic
in&uen0a in %eorgia'
20074
104 o/$en J, rane @, @eFotte ,, Klo&er J,
NyGuist A4 " re1 )an$emic )lanning
sur&ey o% .ealt.care /or0ers at a tertiary
care c.il$ren3s .os)ital5 et.ical an$
/or0%orce issues4 $n&uen .ther !es) irus
2010'8(9)5213224
114 ,amery S, Bilson S, ,ra)er !, Kratus ,
Kreen2el$ S, C&es J, et al4 Bill t.e N!S
continue to %unction in an in2uenFa )an1
$emic2 A sur&ey o% .ealt.care /or0ers in
t.e Best +i$lan$s, 7N4 *MC #ublic
Health 200*' = (1)51924
124 +atsuis.i N, Cto A, +ouri N, Nitamura N,
A0imoto N, +ino N, et al4 6actors
associate$ /it. moti&ation an$ .esitation
to /or0 among .ealt. )ro%essionals
$uring a )u#lic crisis5 a cross sec1 tional
stu$y o% .os)ital /or0ers in Ja)an $uring
t.e )an$emic (!1N1) 200*4 *MC #ublic
Health 2010' 1> (1)5(724
134 Malicer R, Emer S, Marnett ,, E&erly K4
@ocal )u#lic .ealt. /or01 ers3 )erce)tions
to/ar$ res)on$ing to an in2uenFa
)an$emic4 *MC #ublic Health
200(' 6 (1)5**1074
194 !o)e N, ,urr.eim ,, Marnett ,, ,3Este
, Ne/ley , ,al1 ton , et al4 Billingness
o% %rontline .ealt. care /or0ers to /or0
$uring a )u#lic .ealt. emergency4 Austr
- ("erg Manage
2010';<(3)53*974
154 Cr&in M, in$ric. @, "atterson B,
Sout.all A4 Sur&ey o% .os1 )ital
.ealt.care )ersonnel res)onse $uring a
)otential a&ian in2uenFa )an$emic5 /ill
t.ey come to /or02 #rehos) Disast Med
200:';9(9)532:354
1(4 +artinese 6, Nei;Fers K, Krant S, @in$ J4
!o/ /oul$ Australian .os)ital sta%% react
to an a&ian in2uenFa a$mission, or an in2
uenFa )an$emic2 ("erg Med Austr
200*';1(1)512294
174 Masta NE, E$/ar$s SE, Sc.ulte J4
Assessing )u#lic .ealt. $e)artment
em)loyees3 /illingness to re)ort to /or0
$ur1 ing an in2uenFa )an$emic4 -
#ublic Health Manag #ract
200*'1<(5)5375:34
1:4 E.renstein M" , !anses 6 , SalF#erger M4
Cn2uenFa )an$emic an$ )ro%essional $uty5
6amily or )atients 2rst2 A sur&ey o%
.os)ital em)loyees4 *MC #ub Health
200('6 534
1*4 +artin S,4 Nurses3 a#ility an$ /illingness
to /or0 $uring )an1 $emic 2u4 - Nurs
Manag 2011' 1= (1)5*:10:4
204 Seale !, @ea0e N, +acCntyre R4 Bill
t.ey ;ust )ac0 u) an$ lea&e2 Attitu$es
an$ inten$e$ #e.a&iour o% .os)ital .ealt.
care /or0ers $uring an in2uenFa
)an$emic4 *MC Health Serv !es
200*'=(1)5304
214 Karrett A@, "ar0 PS, Re$lener C4
+itigating a#senteeism in .os1 )ital
/or0ers $uring a )an$emic4 Disast Med
#ub Health #re)
200*'9(Su))l4 2)5S19174
224 Kers.on RR, +ag$a @A, Oures.i NA,
Riley !E, Scanlon E, arney +- , et al4
6actors associate$ /it. t.e a#ility an$
/illingness o% essential /or0ers to re)ort
to $uty $uring a )an$emic4 - .ccu)
(nviron Med 2010'<;(10)5**510034
234 C&es J, Kreen2el$ S, "erry J, ,ra)er !,
Kratus , "etts J, et al4 !ealt.care
/or0ers3 attitu$es to /or0ing $uring
)an$emic in2uenFa5 a Gualitati&e stu$y4
*MC #ublic Health 200*'=(1)55(4
294 E3Sulli&an -@, Amaratunga , ".illi)s
N", orneil B, E3onnor E, @emyre @, et
al4 C% sc.ools are close$, /.o /ill /atc.
our 0i$s2 6amily caregi&ing an$ ot.er
sources o% role con2ict among nurses
$uring large1scale out#rea0s4 #rehos)
Disast Med
200*';8(9)53
12254
254 6itFKeral$ KJ, " atric0 JR, 6iel$ing E,
S.a#an RQ, Ar#on " , Ait0en " , et al4
#ande"ic 1H2N23 4556 $n&uen0a outbreak
in Australia+ $")act on e"ergency
de)art"ents 4 Mris#ane5 Oueenslan$ 7ni1
&ersity o% -ec.nology' 20104
2(4 "olit ,6, Mec0 -4 .a)ter 105 $esigning
Guantitati&e stu$1 ies4 Cn5 ,6 ", - M,
e$itors4 Nursing research+ generating
and assessing evidence for nursing
)ractice 4 " .ila$el).ia5 B olters
Nlu/er=@i))incott Billiams R Bil0ins'
200:4
274 Jiro;/ong S, Jo.nson +, Belc. A4
!esearch "ethods in nurs, ing 7
"idwifery+ )athways to evidence,based
)ractice4 @on$on5 Sy$ney5 EA%or$
7ni&ersity "ress' 20114
2:4 Australian Cnstitute o% !ealt. an$
Bel%are, Nursing an$ mi$1 /i%ery la#our
%orce 20074 Cn5 National health labour
force series8 an#erra5 Australian
Cnstitute o% !ealt. an$ Bel%are'
200*4 )4
15:4
2*4 onsi$ine J, +itc.ell M4 .emical,
#iological an$ ra$iological inci$ents5
)re)are$ness an$ )erce)tions o%
emergency nurses4 Disasters
200:'99(3)59:2*24
304 ,uong N4 ,isaster e$ucation an$ training
o% emergency nurses in Sout. Australia4
Aust ("erg Nurs - 200*' 1; (3)5:(*24
314 !amma$ NS, Ar#on " , Ke##ie N+4
Emergency nurses an$ $isaster res)onse5
an eA)loration o% Sout. Australian
emergency nurses3 0no/le$ge an$
)erce)tions o% t.eir roles in $isaster
res)onse4 Aust ("erg Nurs -
2011' 18 (2)5:7*94
324 Ranse J, Ar#on " , S.a#an RQ, onsi$ine
J, +itc.ell M, @enson S4
,isaster content in Australian tertiary
)ostgra$uate emergency nursing courses5
Cm)lications %or e$ucational
)re)are$ness4 Cn5 Abstract 9 2:th ;orld
Congress on Disaster and ("ergency
Medicine4 20124
334 Koo$.ue J, Mur0e RI, 6errer RR,
.o0s.i NN, ,orey 6, 7))er1 man JS4
Billingness to res)on$ in a $isaster5 a
)e$iatric nurse )ractitioner national
sur&ey4 - #ediatr Health Care 2011';65e1
7
204