In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Course Related Learning Experience (RLE)

Nursing Care Management (NCM) 0121

CRITIQUING AN EVIDECED BASED JOURNAL

“Nurses’ Roles, Disaster Preparedness and Management among Elderly during

Pandemic”

Authors:
Milca A. Arce
Margaret H. Arellano
Sacha Angelicka M. Austria
Ma. Xenia Z. Bitera

DATE OF ACCEPTANCE FOR PUBLICATION:

October 23, 2022
DATE OF SUBMISSION FOR PUBLICATION:
September 2022
JOURNAL:
Asia Pacific Journal of Allied Health Science

Vol: 5, Issue: 1

ISSN: 2704-3568

Copyright © 2022 et al.

 INTRODUCTION

Around the world, several disasters have disturbed and damaged people's lives
and their communities' facilities, amenities, and environments, inflicting them with
suffering that may be beyond what they can bear. Disasters will inevitably occur since
they are a naturally occurring phenomena. Therefore, effective planning and
management are required to limit future harm and misery for everyone who may be
affected by its occurrence. The elderly are one of the most susceptible groups in the
population because of the cognitive, sensory, and functional changes they have
undergone. As a result, they lack the ability to defend themselves against these difficult
situations.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines has seen a number of
catastrophes that have caused devastating casualties among multiple residents,
including amongst elderly people who are vulnerable. Therefore, substantial support is
necessary to stop them from suffering even more as a result of these phenomena.
Historically a theorist highlighted the vital role that nurses play in disasters and
emergency mitigations. As a result, nurses should actively participate in providing
compassionate and expert care for this vulnerable group even in the presence of
emergencies while thoroughly complying to the preventative procedures and protocols
in place during this COVID-19 epidemic.
Preparedness in disasters will allow health care worker; nurses in enhancing
their knowledge regarding the management that pertains to the health issues caused by
disasters. As a result, For them to develop an assortment of skills and inventiveness in
challenging circumstances, instructional programs and facilities must be provided. To
effectively care for the geriatric population, nurses must demonstrate these competency
skills as a component of management for disaster. But multiple studies have shown that
nurses have poor crisis management and preparedness. Additionally, there is little
literature and study about this idea that focuses on the senior population more so in
times of pandemic.
The objective of this study is to analyze the nursing responsibilities in pandemic
preparedness, management, and care of the geriatric individuals. More specifically, this
study aims to identify the nursing roles among elderly people during pandemic, nursing
disaster preparedness among older people during pandemic, nursing disaster
management among elderly people during pandemic, nursing difficulties associated with
caring for elderly people during a worldwide epidemic, and the significant relationship
between nurses’ disaster preparedness, nurses’ disaster management, and challenges
among nurses in caring of geriatric individuals during COVID-19 pandemic. 

METHOD
A non-probability sampling method, purposive sampling, was use to highlight on
the qualities of the audience that was targeted. Three criteria were applied with this
sample method, including: (1) Public Health (2) worked there for at least a year as a
nurse; and (3) participate in conversation with senior citizens in the neighborhood.
Researchers sought to obtain the highest number of qualified individuals that could fit all
of these mentioned standards. A total of 170 community health nurses ages twenty-
three to forty-five years old without any health-related ailment participated to answer the
online survey questionnaire. As the towns within a 30-km,the area from which the
potential responses were to be drawn was chosen to be inside the Taal Volcano's
radius. Hence, the study's tool for the present investigation was processed by means of
an approval process to add to the acquire information from real people who could take
part in this advancement.

To accomplish the research objectives, a descriptive-correlational research

design was utilized. Non-experimental quantitative study of this kind technique provides
for the extension and description of the distinctive features of a specific phenomenon
while measuring and examining the statistical connection between the two given
variables without taking into account any extraneous variable. Since the goal of this
investigation is find the important connection between nurses' disaster management by
nurses, disaster readiness, and nurses face difficulties when caring for seniors during
COVID -19 Pandemic, applying the descriptive correlational method. The design served
a purpose in identifying these characteristics and the depth of a demographic segment's
relationship using information from statistics.
 A request letter for a survey had been sent via emailing the appropriate
institution's authorities that was comprised in this study. The objectives of the research,
the way the data was collected, and a guarantee that the anonymity of all participants
would be protected were all included in the letter. Upon authorization from the
institutions' management, a duplicate an informed consent form explaining the study's
goals, their right to decline participation, and a guarantee that their identities would be
protected. The survey form was made possible with the help of Google Forms. Once
the respondents had given their consent to take part, the link to the Google Forms
survey was emailed through their addresses. The information was gathered from March
18, 2021, through February 23, 2021.

The survey answers provided by respondents were totaled, calculated, and

examined from the disseminated questionnaires. The answers to the survey
questionnaire were also captured using a variety of statistical techniques. In order to
verify the participants' statements regarding the roles, frequency count was
performed. They portray themselves and the acts they take during the COVID-19
pandemic as preparation and management in sustaining the requirements of the elderly
in times of calamity. The average and ranking of replies in relation to the importance of
the indicators were also determined with the help of weighted mean and ranking. The
Pearson Product-Moment is also included. Additionally, the correlation coefficient was
employed as an the degree and direction of the relationship between variables
measured on a scale of at least one interval using an inferential statistical method.

RESULTS

According to the study's findings, nurses still need to continuously improve their
ability to manage elderly patients during pandemics and in disaster situations. It is
advised that high-quality training programs be provided in this area in order to support
the elderly population's significant health care needs, which are crucial to maintaining
their well-being.
 DISCUSSION

As health care providers, nurses consistently accomplish their duties by providing

assistance and care to the elderly in the community, who are regarded as people who
are most vulnerable during a pandemic outbreak. In order to equip and prepare
themselves for disaster response, particularly during pandemics, nurses take advantage
of their educational background, gain practical experience, and participate in various
seminars and training sessions. Institutions and organizations, however, lack sufficient
programs and activities that specifically target and prioritize the needs of the elderly
groups during these situations. As they maintain their fundamental medical needs for
the elderly during pandemics, nurses provide a crucial role in disaster management.
However, even though the elderly experienced traumatic events as a result of the
catastrophes, little attention was paid to improving their mental health. Throughout the
pandemic. When caring for the elderly, nurses frequently face difficulties, with the worry
of an increased risk of catching the virus for themselves and their families stemming
from their exposure to various types of people while doing their nursing duties. The
obstacles nurses have when caring for this population during a pandemic do not stop
them from taking action to improve their older patient care and disaster preparedness.

This study is appropriate in the current nursing education and practice because
the substantial information was further explained by the study will be beneficial to the
health care members. As the study tackles about the disaster risk management during
the time of pandemic. This could generate more studies that could also foster better
management, strategies and approaches towards in caring for elderly clients.

While, the significant problem in the clinical area that is being addressed by the
results of the journal is that the Philippines has been devastated by numerous disasters,
which have resulted in many deaths and hardships for many people, especially the
elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to disasters due to their deteriorating
physiological and immunological health, especially during the pandemic. As mentioned
in the background of the study, Disasters are unavoidable because they are a naturally
occurring events. Therefore, efficient management and preparation must be done to
prevent potential damage and misery for everyone who may be affected by this event.

The strength of this research study is that it discusses and gives new information
that could generate new knowledge in the field of medicine in particular with the disaster
risk management during COVID-19 pandemic. It is indeed useful in the clinical setting
as there are knowledge gaps that must be filled in many domains, and a variety of
research in the basic sciences, clinical sciences, public health sciences, implementation
science, and policy and system studies are required to successfully respond to future
pandemic. It doesn’t solely promote further study yet the information given can be used
as nurses will use disaster preparedness as a tool to increase their education in dealing
with the health issues caused by disasters. Therefore, more training programs and
facilities are required so that they can develop a variety of abilities and creativity under
challenging circumstances. And the information presented by the journal is shown,
explained and complete as this study was adapted in our country, it is applicable based
as it shows appropriateness in pertains to our culture and values as Filipinos.

Otherwise, the weakness of the study is its limitation. The fact that it is was
conducted locally, limited related literature were mentioned. In addition, the sample is
also limited. As according to a study, a larger sample size is important as it better
represent the population and will hence provide more accurate results.

CONCLUSION

The data gathered showed that although nurses frequently face struggles caring
for older people during pandemics, they consistently accomplish the duties they have in
providing important health care. Additionally, they frequently take actions to improve this
group's catastrophic events preparedness and management without taking into account
the difficulties they experience.

Its implication to the Nursing Practice, Education and Research is it will serve as
a basis in order for us, nurses to better respond in disaster risk management among
elderly clients. As a nurse, it is essential to be ready for catastrophes; having the right
training, and have a plan in place for handling them. The nurse in a disaster situation
has a significant duty to provide urgent assistance, first aid, or medical care to those in
need. Through these researches, we can ably improve patient care and identify the best
practices for our geriatric patient. It also provides an advancement regarding recent
issue and management in particularly, COVID-19 pandemic.

RECOMMENDATION
Related research must be conducted in the future. more work to support the
actions in completing the nurse's responsibilities, enhancing emergency preparedness,
managing, and being prepared the difficulties of caring for the elderly during a
pandemic, for both the benefit of the elderly population and the nursing profession. For
other researchers looking to further investigate the responsibilities of nurses in disaster
preparedness and management of the elderly during pandemics from multiple angles
and practices of a bigger scale of nurses in diverse fields and broader regions, this
study may be a trustworthy resource.

REFERENCE:

Arce, M., Arellano, M., Austria, S. A., & Bitera, M. X. (2022). Nurses’ Roles,
Disaster Preparedness and Management among Elderly during Pandemic . Asia
Pacific Journal of Allied Health Science, 5(1), 63–72.
https://doi.org/https://research.lpubatangas.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/7-
APJAHS-2022-12.pdf