Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Virtual Earthquake Management on Knowledge among National Service Scheme Volunteers of Selected Colleges

Abstract

Disaster management is very important to survive in case of a natural or a major man-made disaster in order to lessen the impact of a sudden disaster. Over the past few decades, disasters have been on the rise. Millions of people have been affected. Earthquake is a natural calamity which has a power to destroy human lives, livestock and property in few seconds. Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge of NSS volunteers on earthquake management in selected colleges. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual earthquake management on knowledge among NSS volunteers in selected colleges. 3. To find association of knowledge with selected demographic variables among NSS volunteers in selected colleges. 4. To assess the satisfaction level of the NSS volunteers about virtual earthquake management in selected colleges. Design: A pre-experimental, one group pre-post-test design was adopted for the study. Setting: Selected five colleges of the city having NSS volunteers as per the probability-stratified random sampling technique. Participants: A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 151 volunteers studying in selected colleges of the city. Methodology: The tool which is a self-structured questionnaire divided into three sections: Section I: Consists of demographic variables; Section II: Consists of 20 multiple choice questions to assess the knowledge of NSS volunteers about earthquake management; and Section III: Consists of rating scale to assess the satisfaction of the NSS volunteers about virtual earthquake management. As per three different strata, after the pre-test with self-structured questionnaire, 'Virtual teaching on Earthquake Management' was given for 15 min in the computer lab of the respective colleges. For some volunteers, a link was provided to refer the video from the YouTube on mobile or laptop where computer lab was not available. Investigator also provided mail address to study samples for clarifications of doubts if any. Post-test was given after 7 days. Results: According to data collection, the pre-test score for NSS volunteers was 10.56 and post-test score after the intervention was 15.42. This difference is statistically highly significant as p<0.05. Hence, virtual learning is effective in improving knowledge of NSS volunteers on earthquake management. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide us with evidence that as today’s generation is more techno-savvy, virtual earthquake management is an effective method of educating the NSS volunteers about earthquake management. This modern education technology will help to retain and enlighten this knowledge to others.