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Evaluation of an Online Educational Intervention to Increase Knowledge and Self-efficacy in Disaster Responders and Critical Care Transporters Caring for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2019

Zachariah S. Edinger*
Affiliation:
Carolinas Healthcare System, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
Kelly A. Powers
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Nursing, Charlotte, North Carolina
Kathleen S. Jordan
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Nursing, Charlotte, North Carolina
David W. Callaway
Affiliation:
Carolinas Healthcare System, Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Zachariah S. Edinger, Carolinas Healthcare System, Levine Cancer Institute, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 3027, Charlotte, NC 28204 (e-mail: zach.edinger@atriumhealth.org).

Abstract

Objective

Disability-related education is essential for disaster responders and critical care transporters to ensure positive patient outcomes. This pilot study evaluated the effect of an online educational intervention on disaster responders and critical care transporters’ knowledge of and feelings of self-efficacy about caring for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Methods

A 1-group, pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental design was used. A convenience sample of 33 disaster responders and critical care transporters participated.

Results

Of the 33 participants, only 24% had received prior education on this topic, and 88% stated that such education would be beneficial to their care of patients. Nineteen participants completed both the pretest and posttest, and overall performance on knowledge items improved from 66% correct to 81% correct. Self-efficacy for caring for developmentally disabled individuals improved, with all 10 items showing a statistically significant improvement.

Conclusion

Online education is recommended to improve the knowledge and self-efficacy of disaster responders and critical care transporters who care for this vulnerable population after disasters and emergencies. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:677–681)

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 

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References

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