Association between participation in community awareness programs and disaster preparedness: A cross-sectional study

Disaster preparedness community awareness programs are extensively implemented to enhance public readiness, yet evidence on their impact in Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between participation in community awareness programs and disaster preparedness in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. This analytical cross-sectional study utilized an online self-administered questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitude, practices, and overall disaster preparedness among adult Saudi residents of Tabuk region. A total of 641 responses were analyzed, of whom 36% had attended a disaster preparedness program. Program attendees demonstrated significantly higher knowledge, attitude, practice, and total preparedness scores (all P < .05). The frequency of high preparedness among program attendees was more than double that of non-attendees (54.5 vs 24.3%). Attendance remained independently associated with higher preparedness in multivariable regression (adjusted B = 4.012, P < .001). Nevertheless, critical preparedness practices, such as evacuation planning and community drill participation, were low in both groups. The most commonly reported barriers to attendance included lack of interest (67.7%), insufficient time (47.1%), and limited resources (28.1%). Participation in preparedness awareness programs was significantly associated with higher levels of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and overall preparedness. Although causality cannot be assessed due to the cross-sectional design, these findings suggest an important role for awareness programs in enhancing disaster readiness. To strengthen resilience, policies should integrate community awareness programs into national health strategies, address motivational and resource barriers, and promote community collaboration.