Staff knowledge and participation in disaster risk management: a hospital study

Abstract

Hospital institutions go beyond their healthcare function to become strategic social assets whose operational capacity must be continuously preserved in the face of any crisis or emergency scenario. Methodology: A quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted in a second-level hospital with 228 staff members (221 healthcare and 7 administrative). A 15-item Likert-scale questionnaire was used to assess emergency preparedness. Results: An established functional framework was identified, but with a critical gap between theoretical planning and actual operational capacity. A medium level of knowledge and limited participation in practical activities predominate, indicating that existing protocols alone do not ensure a coordinated institutional response. Conclusions: Preparedness does not depend on job position, but on individual commitment and recurrent practice with risk management being a cross-cutting responsibility. It is concluded that the healthcare staff has a more realistic view of functional vulnerability than the management level. To strengthen institutional resilience, it is imperative to move towards a decentralized and operational management model that prioritizes continuous training, systematic drills, and effective dissemination of evacuation routes.