Communication and Information Technology

Educational competencies and technologies for disaster preparedness in undergraduate nursing education: An integrative review

Objectives: This integrative review of literature was conducted to determine (1) what are the suitable disaster preparedness competencies for undergraduate nursing curriculum? and (2) what are the suitable methods of instruction to deliver disaster preparedness content?

Improved Training for Disasters Using 3-D Virtual Reality Simulation

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of virtual reality simulation (VRS) on learning outcomes and retention of disaster training. The study used a longitudinal experimental design using two groups and repeated measures. A convenience sample of associate degree nursing students enrolled in a disaster course was randomized into two groups; both groups completed web-based modules; the treatment group also completed a virtually simulated disaster experience.

News Droughts, News Floods, and U. S. Disaster Relief

This paper studies the influence of mass media on U. S. government response to approximately 5,000 natural disasters occurring between 1968 and 2002. These disasters took nearly 63,000 lives and affected 125 million people per year. We show that U. S. relief depends on whether the disaster occurs at the same time as other newsworthy events, such as the Olympic Games, which are obviously unrelated to need.

Strengthening the information deficit model for disaster preparedness: Mediating and moderating effects of community participation

The information deficit model (IDM) suggests that disseminating relevant information to the public about an issue or concern can result in people changing their perception, beliefs and attitude leading to positive actions. In the context of disaster preparedness, IDM suggests that providing information associated to disaster risk and response actions to concerned stakeholders should increase the level of disaster preparedness, leading to mitigation in the growing damages caused by disasters.

Relationship between citizens' risk perceptions formed by disaster information and migration decision-making: Evidence from Japan

This study approached the problem of how disaster-related information from various media leads to citizens recognizing risk, and how this affects migration decision-making. A web questionnaire was administered in seven areas that are at risk of being affected by the Nankai megathrust earthquake.

Empirical insights for designing Information and Communication Technology for International Disaster Response

Due to the increase in natural disasters in the past years, Disaster Response Organizations (DROs) are faced with the challenge of coping with more and larger operations. Currently appointed Information and Communications Technology (ICT) used for coordination and communication is sometimes outdated and does not scale, while novel technologies have the potential to greatly improve disaster response efficiency.

Use of Big Data and Information and Communications Technology in Disasters: An Integrative Review

Novel approaches to improving disaster response have begun to include the use of big data and information and communication technology (ICT). However, there remains a dearth of literature on the use of these technologies in disasters. We have conducted an integrative literature review on the role of ICT and big data in disasters. Included in the review were 113 studies that met our predetermined inclusion criteria. Most studies used qualitative methods (39.8%, n=45) over mixed methods (31%, n=35) or quantitative methods (29.2%, n=33).

Social media and disasters: A functional framework for social media use in disaster planning, response, and research

A comprehensive review of online, official, and scientific literature was carried out in 2012-13 to develop a framework of disaster social media. This framework can be used to facilitate the creation of disaster social media tools, the formulation of disaster social media implementation processes, and the scientific study of disaster social media effects. Disaster social media users in the framework include communities, government, individuals, organisations, and media outlets.

Information/communication technology and natural disaster vulnerability

Over the last several decades the world has experienced a revolution in information and communication technologies (ICT). Improved communications has transformed societies, and as we show in this study, has also served to reduce natural disaster vulnerability. Using cross-country data over the 1980-2013 period to estimate the relationship between ICT and disaster fatalities, our estimates indicate that as ICT access improves countries experience fewer disaster-induced fatalities.

Digital disparities and vulnerability: mobile phone use, information behaviour, and disaster preparedness in Southeast Asia

This paper proposes an ecological view to investigate how disparities in mobile technology use reflect vulnerabilities in communities vis-à-vis disaster preparedness. Data (n=1,603) were collected through a multi-country survey conducted equally in rural and urban areas of Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam, where mobile technology has become a dominant and ubiquitous communication and information medium.