Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness最新文献

Objectives: Disaster experiences have long-term effects on disaster preparedness. This study examined the long-term (10-y) effect of disaster severity of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake on survivors' disaster preparedness and the moderating effects of household vulnerability.

Methods: The data were collected in January 2018 covering 30 counties in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas. The dependent variable was survivors' disaster preparedness (including overall, material, knowledge and awareness, and action preparedness) in 2018. Disaster severity included survivors' housing damage and county death rate caused by the earthquake in 2008. Household vulnerability is a set of conditions that negatively affects the ability of people to prepare for and withstand disaster, proxied by households' per-capita income and the highest years of schooling of household members. We performed multivariable linear regression models to answer the research questions.

Results: A higher county death rate was associated with better overall preparedness (β = 0.043; P < 0.05) and knowledge and awareness preparedness (β = 0.018; P < 0.05), but housing damage was not significantly associated with disaster preparedness. The positive association of county death rate with overall preparedness (β = -0.065; P < 0.05) becomes weaker when a household has a higher per-capita income. Also, with the household per-capita income increasing, the associations of county death rate with material preparedness (β = -0.037; P < 0.05) and action preparedness (β = -0.034; P < 0.01) become weaker.

Conclusions: Disaster severity has positive and long-term effects on survivors' disaster preparedness. Also, the positive and long-term effects are affected by household vulnerability. Specifically, the positive and long-term effects of disaster severity on disaster preparedness are more substantial when a household is more vulnerable.

The recent rise of active shootings calls for adequate preparation. Currently, the "Run, Hide, Fight" concept is widely accepted and adopted by many hospitals nationwide. Unfortunately, the appropriateness of this concept in hospitals is uncertain due to lack of data. To understand the "Run, Hide, Fight" concept application in hospitals, a review of currently available data is needed. A systematic review was done focusing on the "Run, Hide, Fight" concept using multiple databases from the past 12 years. The PRISMA flow diagram was used to systematically select the articles based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The measurements were subjective evaluations and survival probabilities post-concept. One agent-based modeling study suggested a high survival probability in non-medical settings. However, there is a paucity of data supporting its effectiveness and applicability in hospitals. Literature suggests a better suitable concept, the "Secure, Preserve, Fight" concept, as a response protocol to active shootings in hospitals. The effectiveness of the "Run, Hide, Fight" concept in hospitals is questionable. The "Secure, Preserve, Fight" concept was found to be designed more specifically for hospitals and closes the gaps on the flaws in the "Run, Hide, Fight" concept.

Objective: In 2020, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare developed an Excel workbook entitled "Simple Simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters." In September 2021, it was modified as the "Revised Simulator" to plan food stockpiles in normal times and post-disaster meals. This study aimed to further improve the Revised Simulator.

Methods: Eight group interviews were conducted with 12 public health dietitians, 9 disaster management officers, and 2 public health nurses from September to November 2021. They provided nutritional support during previous disasters or prepared for predicted future disasters. Qualitative analysis was conducted on interview transcriptions, then the Revised Simulator was improved based on their feedback.

Results: The Revised Simulator was improved to the "Simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks and meals for large-scale disasters" with significant changes such as adding specific tags in the food list to denote long shelf life and elderly-friendly foods, as well as displaying bar graphs to visualize the required and supplied amounts of energy and nutrients.

Conclusions: The Revised Simulator was upgraded for planning and assessing stockpiles and meals in ordinary conditions and emergencies. This study will contribute to enhancing the quality and quantity of food supplies during disasters.

Objective: It is of critical importance to determine the factors that contribute to nurses' disaster preparedness. This study aimed to examine nurses' perceptions of disaster preparedness and the factors affecting it.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 464 nurses working in the East Marmara region of Türkiye. The data were collected online using the "Personal Information Form," "The Scale of Perception of Disaster Preparedness on Nurses," and the "Adult Motivation Scale." Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors.

Results: It was found that nurses possessed a high level of perceived disaster preparedness, influenced by individual disaster preparedness, status of receiving disaster-related training, willingness to respond in the case of a disaster, disaster plan awareness, experience with caring for disaster victims, extrinsic motivation, and general motivation.

Conclusions: The results of the study offer evidence that can be implemented by managers and educators to better prepare nurses for disasters. Hospital administrators and policy makers should consider the factors affecting nurses' perception of disaster preparedness to develop solutions for such disasters.