HOSPITALS’ INTERNAL DISASTERS PREPAREDNESS: A STUDY FROM PRIVATE SECTOR HOSPITALS OF ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

Background: Hospitals play a vital role in disaster management, requiring robust preparedness to mitigate internal crises. Effective disaster readiness involves equipping healthcare professionals with adequate knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and ensuring readiness to practice. Despite global advancements in disaster preparedness, private hospitals often face challenges in implementing comprehensive strategies. This study focuses on evaluating the preparedness of healthcare professionals in private hospitals in Islamabad, Pakistan, providing insights into their disaster management capabilities and identifying areas for improvement. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and readiness of healthcare professionals toward internal disaster preparedness in private hospitals and to identify gaps for formulating improved disaster management strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff, from two private hospitals in Islamabad. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising 22 items on knowledge, 16 items on attitudes, and 8 items on readiness to practice. A total of 303 participants were selected using a convenient sampling technique. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests to assess differences between groups. Results: Among the 303 respondents, 51.5% were from Shifa International Hospital and 48.5% from Ali Medical Complex. The occupational distribution included 57.1% nurses, 36% doctors, and 6.9% paramedical staff. Educational qualifications varied, with 36.6% holding master’s degrees and 32.7% bachelor’s degrees. Reliability analysis showed acceptable scores, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.684 for knowledge to 0.891 for attitudes. T-test results indicated no significant differences between the hospitals in knowledge (p = 0.367) and attitudes (p = 0.206). However, readiness to prepare scores differed significantly (p < 0.001), favoring Ali Medical Complex. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for enhanced training, resource allocation, and feedback mechanisms to address gaps in disaster preparedness. While knowledge and attitudes were comparable, significant differences in readiness emphasize the need for targeted interventions. Improved collaboration, infrastructure, and workforce development are essential to strengthen disaster response capabilities in private hospitals.