title: Disaster Preparedness in Families With Children With Special Health Care Needs.
abstract: Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) may present unique challenges for disaster preparedness. This study's objective was to determine the impact of a disaster supply starter kit intervention on preparedness for families of CSHCN. The study was a 1-group pre-post cohort design with consecutive enrollment at the Arkansas Children's Hospital Medical Home Clinic. Pre- and postintervention survey findings were compared using McNemar's test. Of the 249 enrolled, 223 completed the postsurvey. At presurvey, 43% had an Emergency Information Form, compared with 79% at postsurvey (P < .001). At presurvey, 18% had a disaster kit, compared with 99.6% at postsurvey, and 44% added items. Of the 183 respondents who did not have a disaster kit at presurvey, 99% (n = 182) had a disaster kit on postsurvey, and 38% (n = 70) added items. An inexpensive educational disaster supply starter kit may increase preparedness. Further investigation on sustainability and dissemination to other populations is needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA doctorholli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Holli B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bagwell
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liggin
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Tonya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baltz
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melguizo-Castro
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nick
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001131:Arkansas; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: children; disaster; emergency information form; preparedness; special health care needs; supply kit