title: Development, implementation and evaluation of a disaster training programme for nurses: a Switching Replications randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Training efforts in disaster education need to provide updated knowledge, skills and expertise to nurses through evidence-based interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was the development, implementation and evaluation of an educational programme for nurses regarding the provision of health care during disasters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial using Switching Replications design was conducted for the evaluation of the programme. 207 hospital-based nurses were randomly assigned into intervention (n = 112) and original control (n = 95) groups. Changes between groups and over time were measured by questionnaire and used as the outcome measure to demonstrate effectiveness of the training intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention improved nurses' knowledge and self-confidence levels while no significant changes were detected in behavioral intentions. A significant increase in the mean knowledge score was observed in both groups in times 2 and 3 compared to time 1 [pre-test: 6.43 (2.8); post-test: 16.49 (1.7); follow-up test: 13.5 (2.8)], (P < 0.002). Changes in knowledge between intervention and control group were significantly different (P < 0.001) with a large effect size (eta-squared = 0.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The training programme was feasible and effective in improving nurses' knowledge concerning disaster response.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: teopesiridis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pesiridis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panayota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sourtzi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galanis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalokairinou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Disaster nursing education; Effectiveness; Randomized controlled trial; Training programme