Psychological preparedness in disaster management: A survey of leaders in Saudi Arabia's emergency operation centers

Abstract

This study assesses perceptions of psychological preparedness among leaders in Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) across Saudi Arabia. Effective disaster management requires managing stress, maintaining emotional stability, and adapting to rapid changes. A descriptive survey was conducted in 2024 with 110 leaders from various Health regions and the National Health EOC, achieving an 86.4 % response rate. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing their confidence in managing stress, the effectiveness of stress-relief techniques, and emotional stability. Results indicated high confidence in stress management (mean score 4.19, SD = 0.88) and emotional stability (mean score 4.27, SD = 0.80), along with moderately high ratings for the effectiveness of stress-relief techniques (mean score 3.64, SD = 0.99). Only 30.53 % had received formal training on psychological preparedness, while 96.84 % expressed a need for additional training. The study found significant correlations between confidence, emotional stability, and the regular review of coping strategies. These results highlight the critical need for comprehensive training programs to improve the psychological preparedness of disaster management personnel.