NURSING-LED DIGITAL HEALTH STRATEGIES IN DISASTER SETTINGS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Communities in disaster-prone areas face significant challenges in maintaining health resilience, particularly among vulnerable populations (children, older adults, and low-income households). Digital strategies offer innovative solutions for timely access to information, monitoring, and education. However, their implementation, particularly those involving nursing education, leadership, and practice, remains insufficiently explored. This scoping review aims to identify, evaluate, and synthesize nursing-led digital health strategies implemented in disaster settings, with an emphasis on nurses’ roles in leadership, education, and practice. Methods: This scoping review examined nursing-led or nursing-involved digital health strategies implemented globally in disaster settings using studies from 2016 to 2025. Studies published in English were retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus using keywords such as “nurse,” “digital,” and “disaster.” Results: Ten studies revealed the use of digital health strategies such as telehealth, mobile applications, digital triage tools, and virtual learning platforms to support preparedness, response, and recovery in disaster setting. Nurses were actively involved in education, remote care, and psychosocial support, though few studies highlighted their leadership in technology implementation. Simulation-based learning and messaging apps showed promise in enhancing disaster knowledge and coordination. However, challenges included limited digital infrastructure, inconsistent training, and unclear nursing roles in digital health integration. Conclusions: Nursing-led digital health strategies play a vital role in disaster contexts, enabling effective care delivery and information dissemination. Strengthening nurses’ digital capacity and leadership, supported by policy and infrastructure, is crucial for sustainability. Further research should explore adaptive, nurse-driven digital solutions tailored to rural and resource-limited settings.