Clinical Research Directory

Climate-Resilient Disaster Preparedness Education to Improve Knowledge and Skills in Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This study aims to evaluate the impact of a structured climate-resilient disaster preparedness education program on undergraduate nursing students' knowledge and practical skills. Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of disasters, increasing the need for health professionals who are trained to respond effectively. Nursing students, as future frontline providers, must be equipped with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on competencies to manage disaster situations that are influenced by climate variability. The study was conducted at Jouf University, Saudi Arabia, using a quasi-experimental design with intervention and control groups. A total of 160 undergraduate nursing students were recruited and randomly assigned at the class level (80 intervention, 80 control). The intervention group participated in a tailored disaster preparedness training program incorporating lectures, interactive workshops, and simulation-based exercises with a focus on climate-resilient responses. The control group continued with their standard nursing curriculum. Outcomes were measured using validated instruments: a disaster preparedness knowledge questionnaire and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for disaster management skills. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 4-week follow-up to evaluate retention. The primary hypothesis is that students who receive the climate-resilient disaster preparedness education will demonstrate significantly greater improvement in knowledge and skills compared to those in the control group. Findings will provide evidence for integrating climate-resilient disaster preparedness into undergraduate nursing curricula to strengthen health workforce readiness for emerging global health challenges.