Pediatricians' perceptions and preferences for disaster education: A survey from the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to understand pediatricians' experiences with disasters, their perceptions of potential threats, and their preferences for disaster education.

Design: This is a survey study.

Background: The increasing frequency of disasters highlights the need for specialized care for vulnerable populations, particularly children. Pediatricians play a crucial role in disaster preparedness, but they are underprepared due to insufficient disaster-specific education.

Methods: A survey was conducted among pediatricians in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We collected data on personal disaster experiences, perceived threats, and preferences for educational resources. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios (OR) were used to analyze the data.

Results: One hundred and four pediatricians responded. The majority were attending physicians (88 percent) in healthcare or academic settings (73 percent), predominantly Millennials or Generation X (91 percent). Most respondents (82 percent) worked over 20 clinical hours per week. Commonly experienced disasters included winter storms, hurricanes, floods, power outages, and infectious disease outbreaks. However, cyberattacks (OR 25.9, p < 0.0001) and mass shootings (OR 2.71, p < 0.01) were perceived as major threats despite limited direct experiences. Preferred educational resources differed between routine practice and disaster settings, with a notable preference for digital sources like social media during disasters (OR 3.11, p = 0.0005).

Conclusion: There is a need for targeted disaster education for pediatricians. Specific areas of concern include cyberattacks and mass shootings. Digital platforms to provide timely and relevant information were more preferred during disasters. Future efforts should focus on developing and disseminating educational content through preferred formats and outlets to better meet pediatricians' needs.