An Exploration of Motivation for Disaster Engagement and Its Related Factors among Undergraduate Nursing Students in Taiwan

The purpose of the study was to explore the levels of and relationships between disaster nursing competence, anticipatory disaster stress, and the motivation for disaster engagement among undergraduate nursing students in Taiwan. A cross-sectional research design was applied. Using convenience sampling, 90 nursing students participated with an 86.54% response rate. The Disaster Core Competencies Questionnaire, Anticipatory Disaster Stress Questionnaire, and Motivation for Disaster Engagement Questionnaire were used to collect data. The Pearson correlation and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Results showed that students' level of disaster nursing competence was low, anticipatory disaster stress was not high, and motivation for disaster engagement was high. Motivation for disaster engagement was positively correlated with anticipatory disaster stress. Students who were more willing to participate in disaster management had a higher level of anticipatory disaster stress and motivation for disaster engagement. It is suggested that healthcare institutions and schools should work together to design disaster education plans using innovative teaching/learning strategies to increase students' willingness and motivation for disaster engagement.