Changes in disaster preparedness beliefs and risk perception following practical disaster training among district health directorate employees

ISRCTN	ISRCTN11966236
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11966236
Sponsor	Istanbul Medipol University
Funder	Investigator initiated and funded

Submission date: 01/10/2026
Registration date: 05/10/2026
Last edited: 05/10/2026

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Sabanur Çavdar
Principal investigator, Public, Scientific

Istanbul Medipol University. Kavacık Mah. Ekinciler Cad. No: 19, Kavacık Kavşağı, Beykoz
Istanbul
34810
Türkiye

ORCID ID	0000-0001-5490-6877
Phone	+90 216 681 51 00
Email	sabanur.cavdar@medipol.edu.tr; sabanur.cavdar@gmail.com

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Allocation	N/A: single arm study
Masking	Open (masking not used)
Control	Uncontrolled
Assignment	Single
Purpose	Health services research
Scientific title	Evaluation of the effect of face-to-face practical disaster training on disaster preparedness beliefs and disaster risk perception among district health directorate employees in Istanbul, Türkiye
Study objectives	This study aimed to evaluate whether a two-day face-to-face practical disaster training programme, delivered to district health directorate employees through collaboration between the health directorate and the local municipality, changes disaster preparedness beliefs and disaster risk perception, and whether the response differs across sociodemographic subgroups. The training was an existing component of the national disaster volunteer training system and was not designed for research purposes.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 04/07/2024, Istanbul Medipol University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Istanbul Medipol University, Kavacık Campus. Kavacik Mah. Ekinciler Cad. No:19. Beykoz, Istanbul, 34810, Türkiye; +90 2164448544; etik.kurul@medipol.edu.tr), ref: 666
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Disaster preparedness of the primary-level public health workforce in an earthquake-prone urban setting
Intervention	Participants completed the online Basic AFAD Volunteer Training Programme through the national Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) e-learning platform in the two weeks before the face-to-face component. They then attended a two-day Support AFAD Volunteer Training delivered by an AFAD-authorised search and rescue team at a municipal disaster training centre, coordinated by the district health directorate training unit. Classroom sessions covered light urban search and rescue, first aid in disasters, fire safety, disaster psychology, disaster ethics, shelter, hygiene, communication skills and teamwork. Practical field exercises included tent assembly, patient transfer and stretcher fixation, familiarisation with search and rescue tools, knot tying, and a simulated debris search and rescue drill. Questionnaires were completed immediately before the face-to-face training began and immediately after it ended. No control or comparison group was included.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Disaster preparedness beliefs measured using General Disaster Preparedness Belief Scale (GDPBS), a validated 31-item Turkish scale with six subscales, scored from 31 to 155, with higher scores indicating more positive preparedness beliefs at Immediately before and immediately after the two-day training
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Disaster risk perception measured using Disaster Risk Perception Scale (DRPS), a validated 21-item Turkish scale with four subscales (threat, fatalism, controllability, anxiety), scored from 21 to 105, with higher scores indicating greater perceived risk at Immediately before and immediately after the training Self-reported disaster readiness measured using Single-item yes/no questions on perceived competency to intervene in a disaster, feeling prepared for a disaster, knowledge of regional disaster risks, possession of a disaster emergency bag, and having a personal or family disaster plan at Immediately before and immediately after the training
Completion date	31/07/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)
Age group	Mixed
Lower age limit	18 Years
Upper age limit	65 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	80
Total final enrolment	63
Key inclusion criteria	1. Active staff member of Eyüpsultan District Health Directorate, Istanbul, Türkiye, during the training period 2. Aged 18 years or over 3. Able to take part in the two-day face-to-face training, including its physically demanding field exercises 4. Willing to complete the pre-training and post-training questionnaires
Key exclusion criteria	1. On leave during the training period 2. Physical disability or acute physical or mental health condition that made participation in the field exercises unsuitable
Date of first enrolment	08/07/2024
Date of final enrolment	31/07/2024

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Türkiye

Study participating centres

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No

Editorial Notes

02/10/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by Istanbul Medipol University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee.