Emergency Preparedness for Heat Illness in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Abstract

Background: The incidences and fatalities from heat illness have increased in the recent decades along with more frequent heatwaves. Thus, providing effective urgent care for heat illness is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Yet, research on the necessary emergency preparedness for managing such cases has been minimally explored. Methods: A content-validated survey, the Perceived Emergency Preparedness Scale for heat illness (heatPEPS), was distributed to emergency nurses across Ethiopia via Email from December 23, 2019, to January 23, 2020. A subset of these nurses underwent a retest after two weeks. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26, IRTPRO 4.2, and NVivo 12 Plus. Results: A valid response rate of 46.4% (200/431) was achieved. Dichotomous scoring revealed a high mean heatPEPS score (7.29; SD 1.667). The refined 9-item heatPEPS demonstrated an excellent fit with the 2PL model (M2 = 27.24, p > 0.05; RMSEA = 0.01) and satisfactory internal (α = 0.68) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.56). A significant portion of participants (74%) expressed dissatisfaction with their knowledge and skills related to heat illness, identifying a critical area for improvement in emergency preparedness. Conclusion: While emergency departments seem to be well-prepared, this perception may be influenced by social desirability bias. The 9-item heatPEPS proves to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing emergency preparedness for heat illness.