Evaluation of disaster risk perception and influencing factors among hospital personnel using structural equation modeling

Disaster-risk perception (DRP) plays a critical role in disaster risk management (DRM) by enhancing community preparedness through protective actions and intervention measures before, during, and after disasters. This study investigated variations in DRP among hospital employees based on socio-demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2145 hospital employees (933 males and 1212 females) aged 20 to 65 from multiple hospitals in Tehran, Iran. DRP was assessed using six factors: exposure, knowledge, familiarity, preventability, worry, and dread. Data were collected via a valid and reliable questionnaire, and the overall DRP score was calculated using an index-based approach. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), incorporating confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis, was employed to evaluate relationships among the DRP factors. The mean DRP score for hospital employees was 2.878 ± 1.0236, with "familiarity" receiving the highest score (3.101 ± 0.9793) and "dread" the lowest (2.457 ± 0.9506). DRP significantly differed by gender, age, education level, and occupation (p < 0.01). Females, employees aged 40-49, and those with MSc. or Ph.D. degrees demonstrated higher DRP scores. Managers exhibited the highest DRP, while cleaning workers had the lowest. SEM analysis revealed significant relationships among DRP factors, including a positive association between exposure and knowledge (β = 0.61, p = 0.000) and a negative association between preventability and dread (β= -0.35, p = 0.000). These findings highlight the importance of designing targeted disaster training programs that address socio-demographic differences. Enhancing preparedness among healthcare workers through tailored education and interventions is essential for strengthening DRM. Future research should explore the weighting of DRP factors to refine disaster preparedness strategies further.