Evaluating the current status of disaster-preparedness in a subset of Sri Lankan hospitals using a novel tool (pilot, validation, and implementation)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22025510 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nimali Lakmini Munasinghe (0000-0002-7500-4378, Monash University, corresponding author), Gerard O'Reilly, Gerard O’Reilly (0000-0001-5763-917X, Monash University), Peter Cameron (0000-0002-1443-557X, Monash University), Sunil De Alwis (Ministry of the Environment), Don Athula Bernard Dangalle (Japan International Cooperation Agency), Millawage Supun Dilara Wijesinghe (0000-0001-8417-0098, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 129 |
| Pages | 105804 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2212-4209 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105804 |
| OpenAlex | W4414037375 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
The absence of a standardised tool for the Sri Lankan context has hampered local hospitals’ disaster preparedness. This research team newly developed an all-hazards tool comprising 142 indicators across 15 themes, with local expert consensus ensuring face and content validity. Present study aimed to further test its validity, reliability, and feasibility and to assess the preparedness of selected hospitals using this tool. This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted online in 16 government hospitals from March to April 2023 in Sri Lanka. Two independent raters in each hospital ranked the hospital's disaster preparedness for each indicator on a five-point Likert scale ranging from excellent to poor. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Inter-rater reliability and internal consistency were assessed using Cohen's kappa and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. The findings revealed specific gaps and strengths across the assessed hospitals. The preparedness improves as the hospital hierarchy advances, supporting the tool's construct validity. Accessibility and triage themes predominated in those hospitals with satisfactory preparedness, compared with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) readiness, post-disaster recovery and mortuary capacities. Gaps were noted in fire safety preparedness, psychological support for staff and emergency purchasing arrangements. The tool demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency across all 15 themes, with acceptable inter-rater reliability in nearly all hospitals. This validated and feasible tool enhances context-specific disaster preparedness assessments and provides actionable insights to inform policy development and future research. Health authorities may use this tool for countrywide assessments, guiding resource allocation, and enhancing the resilience of hospitals to future disasters
Disaster preparedness · Emergency management · Environmental planning · Geography · Medical emergency · Political science · Preparedness · Sri lanka · Computer Science · Disaster Management and Resilience · Disaster Response and Management · Engineering · Insurance and Financial Risk Management · Medicine
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |