What Are the Factors Associated with Hospital Staff’s Willingness to Participate During Disasters? A Survey of a Key Disaster Hospital in Japan

Efficiently assembling hospital staff during a large-scale disaster is necessary to prevent hospital dysfunction. Confirming the willingness of employees to assemble and participate is crucial for formulating a viable business continuity plan (BCP). This study investigated the factors associated with hospital staff’s willingness to participate in hospital work during a large-scale disaster. In 2023, a survey was conducted with the staff of Hospital A ( n =905; response rate 58.6%), located in a high-risk earthquake zone. Questionnaire items included participant characteristics, willingness to participate in the event of a disaster, reasons for low willingness, and anxiety levels regarding continued work during a hospital disaster. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associated factors. Among the participants, 331 (36.6%) reported high willingness to participate in hospital work in the event of a disaster. Factors associated with low willingness included childcare or elderly care responsibilities, lack of financial guarantees, and higher anxiety levels regarding disaster work. Conversely, full-time employment and a commute time of less than 30 minutes were factors associated with higher willingness. These findings confirm the low willingness of hospital staff to participate in disaster work immediately after a disaster. Welfare benefits addressing childcare and elderly care, financial security, and clarification of roles and working hours can increase staff willingness to participate during a disaster. Hospital managers need to develop appropriate BCPs to ensure the availability of hospital staff for disaster management.