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Review
. 2025 Jun 30;13(13):1571.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare13131571.

Disaster Preparedness and Response Among Healthcare Professionals During the Hajj: A Systematic Literature Review

Thawab Alrabie  1 , Michael Brown  2 , Billiejoan Rice  2 , Lynne Marsh  1
Affiliations
Review

Disaster Preparedness and Response Among Healthcare Professionals During the Hajj: A Systematic Literature Review

Thawab Alrabie et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Disasters pose significant challenges to public health by disrupting essential services, especially during mass gatherings such as the Hajj pilgrimage. These complex events demand swifts coordinated action from healthcare professionals. However, many remain insufficiently equipped for large-scale emergencies due to gaps in triage training, disaster knowledge, and established response protocols-issues that are particularly critical in high-risk settings. Aim: This systematic literature review aims to explore the clinical insights of registered nurses and other healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and response during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive database search was performed across CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, Embase, and APA PsycINFO, focusing on studies published between 2012 and 2025. Eligible studies addressed disaster nursing education, preparedness, and response. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used for quality assessment. Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes emerged: disaster preparedness, experiences and challenges in disaster response, and education and training. The review revealed lack in nurses' readiness, policy awareness, and real-world disaster experience. Training and curriculum improvements are essential to enhance disaster response capabilities. Conclusions: This review highlights the urgent need for standardized disaster nursing curricula to enhance preparedness and response competencies. Incorporating structured disaster training into nursing education will strengthen healthcare system resilience. Future research should adopt qualitative methods to capture healthcare professionals lived experiences during the Hajj. Including diverse participants and focusing on the unique cultural context can enhance disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Keywords: disaster nursing; disaster preparedness; disaster response; emergency preparedness; emergency response; nurses’ disaster insights.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow chart of the search strategy and outcomes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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