Pediatricians’ Perceptions and Preferences for Disaster Education: A Survey Study

Introduction: The increasing frequency of global disasters highlights the need for timely, effective disaster education for healthcare providers. This study assesses pediatric providers’ experiences with disasters, perceptions of potential threats, and educational preferences to improve preparedness. Methods: A survey was conducted among pediatricians affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Chapters in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia from February to April 2024. Data on personal disaster experiences, perceived threats, and preferred educational resources were collected. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were used for analysis. Results: Of the 104 respondents, most were attending physicians (88%) working in healthcare or academic settings (73%), identifying as Millennials or Generation X (91%), with a median practice duration of 8 years. Commonly experienced disasters included winter storms, hurricanes, floods, power outages, and infectious disease outbreaks. Mass shootings and cyberattacks were perceived as the biggest threats despite limited direct experience. Preferred resources were electronic newsletters and professional associations, while during disasters, social media and real-time electronic sources were favored. Conclusion: Pediatricians’ awareness of potential disaster threats exceeded their direct experiences, highlighting key areas for targeted educational interventions. The preference for digital and social media resources during disasters reflects a broader shift towards more accessible, timely education formats that are applicable across healthcare professions. While this study focused on pediatricians, the findings can be generalized to healthcare providers more broadly, emphasizing the importance of disaster education that leverages digital and social media channels to ensure clear, actionable information. This approach is crucial for public health and healthcare organizations to effectively inform healthcare providers during ongoing disaster situations.