Willingness to Work during Disasters: A Survey of Emergency Department Staff in Denmark

Resumé

Aim: This study evaluates the willingness of HCWs in the Zealand region, Denmark to work during MCIs, exploring influencing factors and conditions in comparison to previously published studies.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey was conducted in two emergency departments across three hospitals in Zealand, Denmark. Data collection utilized an online questionnaire based on the “Fight or Flight” questionnaire developed by the University of Leuven, Belgium.

Results: Out of 508 invited HCWs (nurses, doctors, and secretaries), 103 fully answered the questionnaire (response rate 20.3%). Among them, willingness to work (WTW) unconditionally was highest for influenza pandemics (68%), SARS/COVID-19 (63%), and mass shootings (53%). The lowest WTW occurred during nuclear incidents (28%) and dirty bombs (29%). Key conditions for WTW included family safety (84%) and personal protective equipment (79%). Doctors showed higher WTW than nurses, and prior disaster training significantly influenced WTW for specific scenarios (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: High WTW rates suggest a self-evaluated readiness among Danish HCWs in the Zealand Region, especially during pandemics. However, WTW was lower for some scenarios, such as nuclear and radiological events. We suggest, based on the results, that targeted training could enhance preparedness and WTW.