Effectiveness of Training Programme on Disaster Management in terms of Knowledge and Attitude among College Students

Abstract

ABSTRACT newline Disaster is defined as a crisis situation causing wide spread damage which far exceedour ability to recover. Thus, by definition, there cannot be a perfect ideal system thatprevents damage, because then it would not be a disaster. It has to suffocate our ability torecover. newlineRESEARCH METHODS: newlineTrue Experimental Research Design with pre-test post-test control group design was used The knowledge of study group was assessed in pre and post tests. In the pre test, 91.7 % of students had poor and 8.3 had fair knowledge. This was improved as 0.7%, 8.3% and 91% of students had fair, good and excellent knowledge respectively in the post test. Whereas the knowledge of control group in the pre test, 98.7 % of students had poor and 1.3 had fair knowledge. This was improved as 93.0%, and 7.0% of students had poor, and fair knowledge respectively in the post test.The mean improvement of knowledge of study group was 20.1±2.8. The same of the control group was 1.3±2.3. The difference between the two groups was statistically very highly significant (Plt0.001). Similarly, the improvements of attitude in respect of study and control groups were 55.1±6.4 and 3.1±3.2 respectively. The mean difference between the two groups was statistically very highly significant (Plt0.001). The correlation coefficient(r)between knowledge with attitude of study subjects in pre test was -0.080. The same was not statistically significant (Pgt0.05). But, the correlation coefficient(r)between knowledge and attitude of study subjects in post test was 0.512 with statistically very highly significant (Plt0.001). This positive relationship may be the training programme that improved the knowledge and attitude of the students towards disaster management. In the control group students the knowledge and attitude of them in both tests were 0.011 and 0.016. newlineCONCLUSION: newlineIt can be concluded that there is a general lack of information among college students regarding disaster preparedness and management. newline