Teaching disaster preparedness via a mobile device: a study of Auckland Civil Defence's Smartphone Application.

This content analysis study examined whether a disaster preparedness education smartphone application created by a New Zealand city matches what experts say are effiective ways of teaching disaster preparedness and teaching via an app. The app was assessed to ascertain if it excelled as a platform for learning, communicated effiectively, addressed factors that can hinder people from preparing, and provided information for special needs populations. Results show that the app addressed most factors that hinder preparedness, provided information for some special needs populations, excelled as a platform for learning, and communicated effiectively. The app's weaknesses include the fact that it lacked targeted information for low-income residents. The findings provide insight on how organizations can effiectively use apps to teach disaster preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]