Students' preparedness for disasters in schools: a systematic review protocol

Hamed Seddighi; Homeira Sajjadi; Sepideh Yousefzadeh; Mónica López López; Meroe Vameghi; Hassan Rafiey; Hamid Reza Khankeh; Magdalena Garzon Fonseca

doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000913

Students' preparedness for disasters in schools: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Paediatr Open. 2020 Dec 4;4(1):e000913. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000913. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Hamed Seddighi^{1

2}, Homeira Sajjadi³, Sepideh Yousefzadeh⁴, Mónica López López⁵, Meroe Vameghi⁶, Hassan Rafiey^{2

6}, Hamid Reza Khankeh⁷, Magdalena Garzon Fonseca⁸

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Social Welfare, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ University Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands.
⁵ Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
⁶ Social Welfare Management Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁸ Department of Child & Family Welfare, Graduate School of Behavioral Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.

Abstract

Introduction: Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in disasters. Improving students' knowledge and skills to prepare for disasters can play a major role in children's health. School as a place to teach children can make a significant contribution to provide the necessary skills. This study aims to identify the effects, strengths and weaknesses of interventions in schools to prepare children for disasters.

Methods and analysis: We use Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to develop a protocol for this systematic review. The included studies will report on the results of interventions targeting 'schoolchildren' defined as individuals between 4 and under 18 years old studying in schools. Different electronic databases will be used for a comprehensive literature search, including MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE to identify the records that match the mentioned inclusion criteria published till December 2020. The main search terms are 'disaster', 'preparedness', 'children' and 'school'. Four types of data will be extracted from the qualified studies including study characteristics (study design, year of publication and geographical region where the study was conducted), participant characteristics (sample size, age and gender), intervention characteristics (aim of intervention, intervention facilitators and barriers) and intervention outcomes. The quality appraisal of the selected papers will be conducted using Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias for quantitative studies and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative studies. We use a narrative synthesis for this systematic review. The narrative synthesis refers to an approach to systematic reviews which focuses mostly on applying words and texts to summarise and explain findings.

Ethics and dissemination: This paper is a part of a Ph.D. thesis of Hamed Seddighi at University of Social welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences with ethics code IR.USWR.REC.1399.008 approved by the Ethics Committee of the above-mentioned university.

Prospero registration number: CRD42020146536.

Keywords: adolescent health.

Publication types

Systematic Review