Progress in Disaster Science最新文献

Earthquakes and tsunamis are natural phenomena that trigger severe consequences for communities. Compared to residents, tourists are more vulnerable to natural hazards, mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the territory hazards, alert signs, and the local language. To encourage disaster preparedness behavior, this study explored the differences in risk perception, trust in authorities, and preparedness for earthquakes and tsunamis between residents and tourists in a coastal city highly exposed to seismic activity.

A survey was implemented in a sample of residents (n = 548) and tourists (national n = 194; international n = 38) in a coastal city in Chile. The questionnaire evaluated perceived risk and perceived consequences, trust in authorities, and the participants' preparedness level against earthquakes and tsunamis.

The findings reveal that international tourists perceived lower risk and consequences and higher trust in authorities than national tourists and residents. On the contrary, residents demonstrated higher levels of preparedness, reflecting their familiarity with the hazards and evacuation signage. The results highlight the importance of personalized strategies to increase tourist preparedness (both national and international). Implications and strategies are addressed in the study.

Background

Nurses are the most prominent healthcare professional group that receives disaster victims and provides regular healthcare support to them at the forefront of disasters and emergencies. As a result, assessing their disaster response self-efficacy (DRSE) level is critical.

Objectives

This quantitative study assessed the level of registered nurses' disaster response self-efficacy in Bangladesh and determined the factors influencing DRSE.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, five hundred sixty registered nurses' data were collected from 12 public and private hospitals in four districts of Bangladesh between August and September of 2023. The data was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire that included the modified Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale. To analyze the data, we utilized IBM SPSS 26 and Jamovi 2.3.21.

Results

The study found a high level of disaster response self-efficacy (M = 3.96, SD = 0.58) among the registered nurses, while their disaster knowledge, skill, and preparedness levels were moderate. Low to moderate correlations were found between self-efficacy in disaster response and disaster-related knowledge (r = 0.349, p < 0.001), disaster skills (r = 0.526, p ˂0.001), and preparedness for disaster (r = 0.589, p ˂0.001) of the registered nurses. Older age, higher nursing designation, working experience in the emergency unit, and higher levels of disaster knowledge significantly influenced registered nurses' self-efficacy while responding to disasters.

Conclusion

Registered nurses in Bangladesh have reported high self-efficacy while responding to disasters. However, to enhance their effectiveness, they need to improve their disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness. To better respond during disasters, it is advisable that nurses receive training in disaster triage, post-disaster mental and psychological health, as well as primary and advanced life support.

Cyclone Shelters (CS) stand as widely acknowledged infrastructure, predominantly established through collaborative efforts of governmental bodies and international organizations. In response to the destructive impacts of cyclones, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has spearheaded the construction of several CS in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. This empirical study delves into the operational effectiveness of JICA-funded CS in Pirojpur district, employing mixed-method research techniques to get comprehensive insights. The investigation seeks to ascertain whether these shelters are fulfilling their intended function adequately. The study's findings underscore a pivotal concern: despite strategic locations, cyclone-affected people encounter limited access to these shelters. This issue arises from challenges related to absence of well-constructed connecting roads, slippery ground floor and a deficiency in inclusive design, particularly absence of gender-based rooms and toilets. To rectify this, it is imperative to refine strategic planning, considering both geographical distinctions and the varied needs of the community. Enhancing the functionality of cyclone shelters is crucial for ensuring comprehensive protection for the vulnerable people amidst the cyclonic threats prevalent in coastal Bangladesh.

Drought and saline intrusion are common hazards that typically occur during dry seasons in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam (MDV), leading to significant socio-economic impacts such as water shortages, crop failures, and social unrest. Climate change exacerbated the impacts of these hazards, which have become more complex and unpredictable, particularly in coastal provinces in MDV. This study aims to explore the intricate relationships between drought and saline intrusion by utilizing the Streamflow Drought Index (SSI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), saline boundary 4 g/l, Pearson correlation (R), and p-values. Additionally, the study analyzes policy developments between the 2016 and 2020 droughts using document review and comparative approach methods. Overall, the results indicate that the 2020 drought was more severe than the 2016 drought. Hydrological drought shows a stronger connection with saline intrusion than meteorological drought in the MDV. Governance in drought and saline intrusion management in 2020 showed improvement compared to 2016. The management of aquaculture remained deficient, leading to more severe impacts of drought and saline intrusion on aquaculture in 2020 than in 2016. The findings of this study can complement risk information and assist decision-makers in effectively managing drought and saline intrusion hazards.

Flood risk has dramatically increased over the decades and is complicated by climate change. Nevertheless, the residual risk of flooding remains scarcely addressed in practice and theory. This paper is to document the lessons learned from managing residual risk in Taiwan. Through a semi-structured interview process, fourteen stakeholders from the flood management in academia, government, and local communities shared their perspectives on residual risk covering various aspects, including flood risk mapping, social representations, and some management strategies. Land use regulation and community-based disaster prevention were highlighted as preparedness measures and recognized for their effectiveness to mitigate flood residual risk. However, there is still an insufficient consideration of flood maps as public communication tools rather than mere decision-informing documents. Besides, all the interviewed stakeholders agreed that marginal flood risk awareness limits the recognition and discussion of residual risk as a problem of its own. Misconceptions and the lack of communication between stakeholders were identified as the main barriers too. Interviewees pointed out that citizens are unaware of risks mainly either due to their inexperience or over-trust in the safety of flood protection structures. Overall, this work may inform residual flood risk management for Taiwan and elsewhere enduring similar extreme floods.

Earthquake preparedness is known to effectively reduce the distressful effects of earthquakes, as demonstrated in experiences worldwide. This research aims to use a region-specific, valid, and reliable survey-based tool to assess individual and community earthquake preparedness levels in a densely populated city region with a forgotten earthquake history. The study focuses on evaluating the earthquake preparedness levels of a population in the Indian peninsular shield region that has not experienced an earthquake or received any preparatory program in their life time; but the region has an earthquake history. Coimbatore city was chosen for the same reason, and two survey-based tools were developed - the Individual Earthquake Readiness Index (IERI) and the Community Earthquake Readiness Index (CERI) - using a comprehensive literature analysis, questionnaire creation via focused group discussion followed by expert panel validation, and pilot studies. This study ensured the validity and reliability of the tools through content validity, construct validity, internal consistency test, Spearman's test-retest reliability test, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The final IERI is a 27-item tool, and the final CERI is a 20-item tool. This study broadens the scope of risk assessment, facilitating a methodical estimation of Earthquake Readiness Index as one of the pivotal social vulnerability determinant. The study revealed a strong sense of community spirit in Coimbatore, but residents showed a lack of individual preparedness and were hesitant to take leadership roles. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to bridge the gaps in earthquake preparedness, fostering a culture of proactive engagement and individual responsibility.

Background

Primary care providers are well placed to improve disaster preparedness in communities. Their close position to their clients and understanding of theirhealth needs can be utilized to increase disaster preparedeness for vulnerable populations. However, there is still a lack of clarity about their roles and services in this area. The aim of this review was to explore the services provided by primary care providers in the context of disaster preparedness activities for vulnerable populations.

Methods

Scoping review was performed with PubMed, Scopus and MEDLINE databases.

Results

A total of 2193 articles were identified from the database screening and 22 full-text articles yielded for the final analysis. After thematic analysis was conducted, six themes were emerged.

Conclusion

To utilise and maximise theprofessional roles of primary care providers effectively, there is a need to strengthen the expertise and involvement of providers in disaster risk management mechanisms and planning. In addition, there is a need for scientific research to explore the existing capabilities of primary care providers and to facilitate their existing ability to coordinate with disaster management agencies.

Recent research in crisis and risk communication has examined information seeking preferences across varying audiences in the time leading up to natural disasters. Such an understanding is critical for targeting risk information messages such that they will have the maximum intended impact on those seeking to take protective actions. Until recently, these studies have largely ignored the relative importance of mediated sources alongside community groups and other grassroots organizations. To that end, the current study surveyed 1030 Florida residents in the aftermath of 2022's Hurricane Ian in the United States. In addition to replicating past findings concerning media preferences across the demographic spectrum, the current study offers evidence that marginalized and at-risk communities may be especially reliant on community resources for information about protective actions concerning an environmental hazard. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for crisis communication researchers and emergency managers alike.

A plethora of methods exist to aid decision-making in mitigating disaster risk, many of which fall into the categories of risk, vulnerability and/or resilience assessment methods. The objective of the present study is to provide an overview of these methods, with a particular focus on evidence that supports their practical implementation. A scoping study of scientific literature reveal 97 distinct methods. Despite the growing interest in publishing new methods, there seems to be a lack of focus on demonstrating their effectiveness in practice. The few contributions that do include some forms of evaluation typically do so by comparing the method's output with disaster data, by contrasting it with the output of other methods, by having experts evaluate the structure of the method, or by testing the method in practice and evaluating its usage. To further strengthen the relevance of research on this topic, increased attention should be paid to this matter. A good starting point would be to use the ways of evaluation identified in this study and systematically present evidence regarding the practical usefulness of methods for risk, vulnerability and/or resilience assessment.

Background

Natural hazards can play a considerable role in the emergence and spread of infectious diseases (ID). There are various risk factors associated with disease outbreaks following disasters.

Objective

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive systematic analysis of communicable disease epidemic and their associated risk factors following disasters worldwide.

Method

This is a systematic review adhering to the PRISMA Scoping Review criteria, encompassing various types of descriptive and analytical research, such as cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and ecological studies. Published articles to the end of March 2022 were searched on the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The primary objective of this review was to examine the incidence and/or prevalence of ID following natural disasters.

Results

After screening 12,151 titles, 72 articles were included in the final analysis. Increased ID incidence rates and outbreaks after floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical storms, heavy rainfall, hurricanes and tornadoes, extreme heat waves, and drought have been reported. Most commonly, outbreaks of diarrhea were reported after floods, followed by leptospirosis and malaria. After earthquakes, an increased incidence of upper and lower respiratory infections was recorded. Outbreaks of gastrointestinal infections and cutaneous leishmaniasis were noted after earthquakes. Tetanus, measles, and malaria epidemics occurred post-tsunami, while cholera and dengue fever were predominant after cyclonic events and monsoons. Socio-economic status, poor water supply, low sanitation & hygiene, poor food security, sex, age, occupation, and co-existing disease are important risk factors of epidemics after disasters.

Conclusion

This review outlines the important ID and major risk factors in the population exposed to natural disasters, providing valuable insights for policymakers and disaster risk managers.