Factors affecting home-based disaster preparedness among school-aged children's parents: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to identify the factors affecting home-based disaster preparedness among Korean parents of school-aged children, based on an ecological model. A descriptive study was conducted involving 233 parents with school-aged children, using an online survey questionnaire. Parents' home-based disaster preparedness scores were classified into four groups: not prepared (36.5%), minimally prepared (38.2%), better prepared (17.6%), and most prepared (7.7%). Home-based disaster preparedness predictors corresponded to occupation and disaster-related knowledge in Model I, parents who had received disaster education in Model II, and age and participation in disaster education for parents and children together in Model III. The findings indicate that home-based disaster preparedness in Korea is inadequate. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and provide disaster-related education programs that consider each population group's needs and disaster preparedness level. Additionally, it is important to form networks for sharing the latest disaster-related information both inside and outside the family to maintain and manage disaster preparedness at home.