Abstract
Background: Primary healthcare nurses play a critical role in disaster preparedness and response. However, evidence regarding their disaster preparedness training needs in Vietnam remains limited. This study aimed to explore perceived disaster preparedness training needs among nurses working at primary healthcare centers in Da Nang City.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in May 2026 involving 19 nurses working at 18 primary healthcare centers in Da Nang City. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Five domains of perceived disaster preparedness training needs were identified, including training sources, content, delivery methods, frequency and duration, and learning resources. Participants emphasized the importance of integrating disaster preparedness education into undergraduate nursing curricula and continuing professional development. Frequently mentioned training topics included disaster triage, psychological support for disaster victims, infection prevention and isolation, first aid and patient transport, disaster response procedures, and interprofessional collaboration. Participants favored face-to-face training and disaster response drills as opportunities for practical skills development and coordinated response. They also suggested regular training, with at least twice-yearly sessions of approximately 2 – 3 days, and emphasized the need for accessible learning resources, including handbooks, practical manuals or protocols, and electronic materials incorporating illustrations, diagrams, and instructional videos.
Conclusion: Nurses at primary healthcare centers perceived a range of disaster preparedness training needs spanning educational content, practical training, delivery methods, and learning resources. The findings provide practical insights for developing competency-based, practice-oriented, and context-specific training programs tailored to the operational context of primary healthcare settings.
| Published | 2026-11-15 | |
| Fulltext |
|
|
| Language |
|
|
| Issue | Vol. 16 No. S-3 (2026) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| DOI | 10.34071/jmp.2026.S-3.7 | |
| Keywords | disaster preparedness, nurses, primary healthcare centers, qualitative study, training needs |

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hue Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy
World Health Organization. Health emergency and disaster risk management framework. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Available from: https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/219a1a08-9ec5-4f2d-9aff-54c713fcfa7c/content
Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. 2021 disasters in numbers. Brussels: CRED; 2022 [cited 2025 Jun 30]. Available from: https://cred.be/sites/default/files/2021_EMDAT_report.pdf
International Council of Nurses. Core competencies in disaster nursing: Version 2.0. Geneva: International Council of Nurses; 2019 [cited 2025 Jun 30]. Available from: https://www.icn.ch/resources/publications-and-reports/core-competencies-disaster-nursing-version-20
Labrague LJ, Hammad K. Disaster preparedness among nurses in disaster-prone countries: a systematic review. Australas Emerg Care. 2024;27(2):88-96. doi:10.1016/j.auec.2023.09.002.
Luo Y, Yan H, Tang Y, Wang S, Yang Z, Zhang T, et al. Levels of nurse disaster preparedness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Educ Pract. 2025;85:104372. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104372.
Feng J, Zhang C, Fang S, Zhao R, Wang H, Li D. Influencing factors of nurses’ disaster preparedness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:2673. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-23981-w.
Loke AY, Guo C, Molassiotis A. Development of disaster nursing education and training programs in the past 20 years (2000-2019): a systematic review. Nurse Educ Today. 2021;99:104809. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2021.104809.
Sarpy SA, Chauvin SW, Hites LS, Santacaterina L, Capper S, Cuccia M, et al. The South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness training system model: a comprehensive approach. Public Health Rep. 2005;120 Suppl 1:52-58. doi:10.1177/00333549051200S111.
Nik Nadian Nisa Nik Nazli, Sipon S, Radzi HM. Analysis of training needs in disaster preparedness. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2014;140:576-580. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.473.
Sangkala MS, Gerdtz MF. Disaster preparedness and learning needs among community health nurse coordinators in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Australas Emerg Care. 2018;21(1):23-30. doi:10.1016/j.auec.2017.11.002.
He J, Li C, Zhou T, Chen M, Huang P, Fu Y, et al. Disaster nursing training needs among different levels of clinical nurses in China: a cross-sectional study with educational implications. Teach Learn Nurs. 2025;20(3): e617-e622. doi:10.1016/j.teln.2025.01.015.
Lamberti-Castronuovo A, Valente M, Barone-Adesi F, Hubloue I, Ragazzoni L. Primary health care disaster preparedness: a review of the literature and the proposal of a new framework. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2022;81:103278. doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103278.
Calma KR, Halcomb E, Watson KE, Mathew S, Ranse J. The role of primary healthcare nurses in disasters due to natural hazards: a scoping review. Aust J Prim Health. 2026;32(2):PY25171. doi:10.1071/PY25171.
World Health Organization. Viet Nam strengthens health emergency preparedness with risk profiling workshop in Da Nang [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025 [cited 2026 August 30]. Available from: https://www.who.int/vietnam/news/feature-stories/item/viet-nam-strengthens-health-emergency-preparedness-with-risk-profiling-workshop-in-da-nang
Lương Trung Hiếu, Nguyễn Như Lâm, Trần Đình Hùng, Ngô Minh Đức, Hoàng Hải, Nguyễn Đại, et al. Đánh giá nhận thức và kĩ năng thực hành đáp ứng y tế với thảm họa của nhân viên các phân đội quân y. Tạp chí Y học Thảm họa và Bỏng. 2024;5:16-24.
Hsieh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res. 2005;15(9):1277-1288. doi:10.1177/1049732305276687.
Songwathana P, Timalsina R. Disaster preparedness among nurses of developing countries: an integrative review. Int Emerg Nurs. 2021;55:100955. doi:10.1016/j.ienj.2020.100955.
Purnomo E, Hamid AYS, Gayatri D, Setiawan A. Building disaster preparedness: a phenomenology study among community nurses. J Liaquat Univ Med Health Sci. 2025;2025(Special Issue):83-88. doi:10.22442/jlumhs.2025.01263.
Wang Y, Liu Y, Yu M, Wang H, Peng C, Zhang P, et al. Disaster preparedness among nurses in China: a cross-sectional study. J Nurs Res. 2023;31(1):e255. doi:10.1097/jnr.0000000000000537.
Wu M, Li X, Wang Y, Xu L. Investigation and analysis of disaster preparedness among nurses in Chinese non-first-tier (inland) cities: a case study from Yongcheng City, Henan Province. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025;18: e342. doi:10.1017/dmp.2024.300.






