Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ijerph	-	5.4	2004	29.6 Days	CHF 2500
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400
Healthcare healthcare	2.8	2.7	2013	19.5 Days	CHF 2700
Safety safety	1.9	3.3	2015	29.6 Days	CHF 1800

14 pages, 1077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Need for a Preparedness Training Model on Disaster Risk Reduction Based on Culturally Sensitive Public Health Nursing (PHN)

by Haris Sofyana, Kusman Ibrahim, Irvan Afriandi, Erna Herawati and Heru Santoso Wahito Nugroho

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416467 - 08 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

The Indonesian Disaster Risk Index (IRBI) in 2018 found that 52.33% of districts or cities in Indonesia were at high risk of natural disasters and the others were at moderate risk. The World Risk Index places Indonesia at number 33 in the very [...] Read more.

The Indonesian Disaster Risk Index (IRBI) in 2018 found that 52.33% of districts or cities in Indonesia were at high risk of natural disasters and the others were at moderate risk. The World Risk Index places Indonesia at number 33 in the very high-risk category. The policy direction of the Implementation of Disaster Management in Indonesia in 2020–2024 is to increase disaster resilience toward sustainable prosperity for sustainable development. Purpose: This study aims to identify the various needs for a culturally sensitive PHN-based disaster risk-reduction preparedness training model. Methods: This study used a descriptive qualitative research design. Data collection was done through in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and expert panel stages in the Indonesian language. Samples involved in the research included 4 experts and 11 informants. Results: There were 10 themes generated from the results. The analysis results revealed that the level of knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the community is still low. Almost all of the people of Mekar Mukti Village stated that they had never received community-based disaster management training. Conclusions: The study findings highlighted the importance of the Disaster Risk-Reduction Preparedness Model Based on Culturally Sensitive Public Health Nursing for the community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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31 pages, 17990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in the Logistics of Pandemic Vaccination: An Exact Analytical Approach for Any Number of Vaccination Centres

by Adnan Benayad, Olaf Malasse, Hicham Belhadaoui and Noureddine Benayad

Healthcare 2022, 10(10), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10102102 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1381

Abstract

While the development and manufacture of pandemic vaccines is a daunting task, the greatest challenge lies in how to deliver these vaccines to billions of people around the world. This requires an efficient strategy of deliveries, at constrained costs and deadlines. This paper [...] Read more.

While the development and manufacture of pandemic vaccines is a daunting task, the greatest challenge lies in how to deliver these vaccines to billions of people around the world. This requires an efficient strategy of deliveries, at constrained costs and deadlines. This paper proposes an exact analytical approach and operational strategy to the logistics of any pandemic vaccination efforts, applicable both to sparsely populated areas or deficient infrastructure, and to very dense urban fabrics where mobility is highly constrained. Our strategy consists in dividing the territory concerned into zones and districts in a concentric way. We opt for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to free ourselves from land constraints. This involves serving, from a logistics centre (central depot), any number n of vaccination centres, while optimizing costs and deadlines. We have determined all equivalent and optimal flight path plans for a fixed and optimal number of drones, which depend on domain D(d); d being the demand of vaccination centers. The analysis of the results led us to define what we will call the “degeneracy of domain D”. All our results are expressed as a function of the parameter n. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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28 pages, 1529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Attribute Decision Support System for Allocation of Humanitarian Cluster Resources Based on Decision Makers’ Perspective

by Sara Rye and Emel Aktas

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13423; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013423 - 18 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1494

Abstract

The rush of the humanitarian suppliers into the disaster area proved to be counter-productive. To reduce this proliferation problem, the present research is designed to provide a technique for supplier ranking/selection in disaster response using the principles of utility theory. A resource allocation [...] Read more.

The rush of the humanitarian suppliers into the disaster area proved to be counter-productive. To reduce this proliferation problem, the present research is designed to provide a technique for supplier ranking/selection in disaster response using the principles of utility theory. A resource allocation problem is solved using optimisation based on decision maker’s preferences. Due to the lack of real-time data in the first 72 h after the disaster strike, a Decision Support System (DSS) framework called EDIS is introduced to employ secondary historical data from disaster response in four humanitarian clusters (WASH: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Nutrition, Health, and Shelter) to estimate the demand of the affected population. A methodology based on multi-attribute decision-making (MADM), Analytical Hierarchy processing (AHP) and Multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) provides the following results. First a need estimation technique is put forward to estimate minimum standard requirements for disaster response. Second, a method for optimization of the humanitarian partners selection is provided based on the resources they have available during the response phase. Third, an estimate of resource allocation is provided based on the preferences of the decision makers. This method does not require real-time data from the aftermath of the disasters and provides the need estimation, partner selection and resource allocation based on historical data before the MIRA report is released. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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17 pages, 1684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Fuzzy Linguistic Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach to Assess Emergency Suppliers

by Huilin Li, Jiaqi Yang and Ziquan Xiang

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13114; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013114 - 13 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1258

Abstract

Under the influence of COVID-19, various emergency supplies have repeatedly broken links, seriously affecting normal life and hindering the sustainable development of enterprises and society. Therefore, suitable emergency suppliers are crucial. To prioritize and select suitable emergency suppliers, key indicators were determined, and [...] Read more.

Under the influence of COVID-19, various emergency supplies have repeatedly broken links, seriously affecting normal life and hindering the sustainable development of enterprises and society. Therefore, suitable emergency suppliers are crucial. To prioritize and select suitable emergency suppliers, key indicators were determined, and evaluation models were established based on the characteristics of epidemic situations and epidemic prevention materials. The application of the MCDM (multi-criteria decision-making) issue combining fuzzy SWARA (the stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis) and the actor analysis method to emergency supplier selection studies, called the fuzzy SWARA-based actor analysis method, is used to identify appropriate suppliers for optimizing pre-preparation. Results of evaluation system weight computations by the Fuzzy SWARA-based actor analysis method show that the overall prioritization of four non-economic factors in ranking orders are “Delivery Capacity”, “Flexible Supply Capacity”, “Quality”, and “Social Evaluation and Reputation”. For the inclusion of conflicting standards and the unquantifiable feature, economic and non-economic factors were discussed separately and evaluated by language variables. Additionally, the fuzzy actor analysis indicated that economic factors and non-economic factors need to be considered comprehensively for emergency supplier selection. This method has good operability and reference value, convenient for the final choice making according to actual situation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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24 pages, 12005 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Numerical Calculation and Analysis of Water Dump Distribution Out of the Belly Tanks of Firefighting Helicopters

by Tejun Zhou, Jiazheng Lu, Chuanping Wu and Shilong Lan

Safety 2022, 8(4), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety8040069 - 03 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2155

Abstract

Helicopters are more and more widely used for water dumping in fire extinguishing operations nowadays. Increasing attention is being paid to improving helicopter firefighting efficiency. Water distribution onto the ground from the helicopter tank is a key reference target to evaluate firefighting efficiency. [...] Read more.

Helicopters are more and more widely used for water dumping in fire extinguishing operations nowadays. Increasing attention is being paid to improving helicopter firefighting efficiency. Water distribution onto the ground from the helicopter tank is a key reference target to evaluate firefighting efficiency. Numerical simulations and calculations were carried out concerning water dumping out of the belly tank of a helicopter using the VOF (Volume of Fluent Model) model and mesh adaptation in ANSYS Fluent, and the effects of two parameters, the height of the tank above the ground and the wind speed, on the wake flow and water distribution were discussed. The results showed that for forward flight, the higher the forward flight speed, the less the average water depth on the ground. Similar results were obtained for flight height. The average water depth was one order of magnitude less than in the cases of the corresponding hovering helicopter for a given wind speed. As for hovering flight, the higher the wind speed, the less the average water depth on the ground. The simulation results were basically consistent with the conclusions of water dump tests of fire-fighting equipment carried by helicopters. For example, when the helicopter flew at a forward flight speed of 15 m/s and the tank bottom was 30 m above the ground, the area covered by the dumped water would be 337.5 m², and the average water depth accumulated per square meter would be 0.3 cm. This result was close to the 0.34 cm obtained under Hayden Biggs’s test condition with a forward flight speed of 70 km/h and a height above the ground of 24 m. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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17 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gender and Public Perception of Disasters: A Multiple Hazards Exploratory Study of EU Citizens

by Arturo Cuesta, Daniel Alvear, Antonio Carnevale and Francine Amon

Safety 2022, 8(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety8030059 - 05 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3143

Abstract

Aim: To explore gender influence on individual risk perception of multiple hazards and personal attitudes towards disaster preparedness across EU citizens. Method: An online survey was distributed to 2485 participants from Spain, France, Poland, Sweden and Italy. The survey was divided into two [...] Read more.

Aim: To explore gender influence on individual risk perception of multiple hazards and personal attitudes towards disaster preparedness across EU citizens. Method: An online survey was distributed to 2485 participants from Spain, France, Poland, Sweden and Italy. The survey was divided into two parts. The first part examined perceived likelihood (L), perceived personal impact (I) and perceived self-efficacy (E) towards disasters due to extreme weather conditions (flood, landslide and storm), fire, earthquake, hazardous materials accidents, and terrorist attacks. The overall risk rating for each specific hazard was measured through the following equation R = (L × I)/E and the resulting scores were brought into the range between 0 and 1. The second part explored people’s reactions to the Pros and Cons of preparedness to compute the overall attitudes of respondents towards preparation (expressed as a ratio between −1 and 1). Results: Although we found gender variations on concerns expressed as the likelihood of the occurrence, personal consequences and self-efficacy, the overall risks were judged significantly higher by females in all hazards (p < 0.01). We also found that, in general, most respondents (both males and females) were in favour of preparedness. More importantly, despite the gender differences in risk perception, there were no significant differences in the attitudes towards preparedness. We found weak correlations between risks perceived and attitudes towards preparedness (rho < 0.20). The intersectional analysis showed that young and adult females perceived higher risks than their gender counterparts at the same age. There were also gender differences in preparedness, i.e., females in higher age ranges are more motivated for preparedness than men in lower age ranges. We also found that risk perception for all hazards in females was significantly higher than in males at the same education level. We found no significant differences between sub-groups in the pros and cons of getting ready for disasters. However, females at a higher level of education have more positive attitudes towards preparedness. Conclusions: This study suggests that gender along with other intersecting factors (e.g., age and education) still shape differences in risk perception and attitudes towards disasters across the EU population. Overall, the presented results policy actions focus on promoting specific DRR policies and practices (bottom-up participatory and learning processes) through interventions oriented to specific target groups from a gender perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

13 pages, 1922 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Associations between Evacuation Status and Lifestyle-Related Diseases in Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

by Zhichao Sun, Hironori Imano, Eri Eguchi, Fumikazu Hayashi, Tetsuya Ohira, Renzhe Cui, Seiji Yasumura, Akira Sakai, Michio Shimabukuro, Hitoshi Ohto, Kenji Kamiya and Hiroyasu Iso

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5661; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095661 - 06 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2054

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between evacuation status and lifestyle-related disease risks among Fukushima residents following the Great East Japan earthquake. Methods: Fukushima health management survey respondents were classified into non-evacuees, returnees, evacuees in lifted areas, and evacuees in banned [...] Read more.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between evacuation status and lifestyle-related disease risks among Fukushima residents following the Great East Japan earthquake. Methods: Fukushima health management survey respondents were classified into non-evacuees, returnees, evacuees in lifted areas, and evacuees in banned areas. During a seven-year follow-up, 22,234 men and 31,158 women were included. Those with a history of diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia at baseline were excluded. The odds ratios of risk factors (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were calculated using a logistic regression model. Spatial autocorrelation of the prevalence of these diseases in the Fukushima area in 2017, was calculated to detect the disease prevalence status. Results: The risks of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were higher in evacuees in banned areas than in non-evacuees; the multivariable ORs were 1.32 (95% CI: 1.19–1.46), 1.15 (1.06–1.25), and 1.20 (1.11–1.30) for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, respectively. Returnees and evacuees in lifted areas had no increased risk of diseases. The area analyzed had a non-uniform spatial distribution of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, with clusters around Fukushima and Koriyama. Conclusion: Our findings imply the need for continuous support for evacuees in banned areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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17 pages, 727 KiB

Open AccessReview

Health, Economic and Social Development Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Strategies for Multiple and Interconnected Issues

by Sigamani Panneer, Komali Kantamaneni, Udhayakumar Palaniswamy, Lekha Bhat, Robert Ramesh Babu Pushparaj, Kesavan Rajasekharan Nayar, Hilaria Soundari Manuel, F. X. Lovelina Little Flower and Louis Rice

Healthcare 2022, 10(5), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10050770 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4588

Abstract

The COVID-19-pandemic-related economic and social crises are leading to huge challenges for all spheres of human life across the globe. Various challenges highlighted by this pandemic include, but are not limited to, the need for global health cooperation and security, better crisis management, [...] Read more.

The COVID-19-pandemic-related economic and social crises are leading to huge challenges for all spheres of human life across the globe. Various challenges highlighted by this pandemic include, but are not limited to, the need for global health cooperation and security, better crisis management, coordinated funding in public health emergencies, and access to measures related to prevention, treatment and control. This systematic review explores health, economic and social development issues in a COVID-19 pandemic context and aftermath. Accordingly, a methodology that focuses on identifying relevant literature with a focus on meta-analysis is used. A protocol with inclusion and exclusion criteria was developed, with articles from 15 December 2019 to 15 March 2022 included in the study. This was followed by a review and data analysis. The research results reveal that non-pharmaceutical measures like social distancing, lockdown and quarantine have created long-term impacts on issues such as changes in production and consumption patterns, market crashes resulting in the closure of business operations, and the slowing down of the economy. COVID-19 has exposed huge health inequalities across most countries due to social stratification and unequal distribution of wealth and/or resources. People from lower socio-economic backgrounds lack access to essential healthcare services during this critical time for both COVID-19 and other non-COVID ailments. The review shows that there is minimal literature available with evidence and empirical backup; similarly, data/studies from all countries/regions are not available. We propose that there is a need to conduct empirical research employing a trans-disciplinary approach to develop the most effective and efficient strategies to combat the pandemic and its aftermath. There is a need to explore the social and ecological determinants of this contagious infection and develop strategies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 or similar infections in future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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10 pages, 11799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Critical Analysis of the COVID-19 Hospitalization Network in Countries with Limited Resources

by Marcio L. V. Araujo, José G. V. Miranda, Rodrigo N. Vasconcelos, Elaine C. B. Cambui, Raphael S. Rosário, Márcio C. F. Macedo, Antonio C. Bandeira, Márcia S. P. L. Souza, Ana C. F. N. Silva, Aloisio S. Nascimento Filho, Thiago B. Murari, Eduardo M. F. Jorge and Hugo Saba

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 3872; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073872 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1830

Abstract

To effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with limited resources could only allocate intensive and non-intensive care units to a low number of regions. In this work, we evaluated the actual displacement of infected patients in search of care, aiming to understand how [...] Read more.

To effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with limited resources could only allocate intensive and non-intensive care units to a low number of regions. In this work, we evaluated the actual displacement of infected patients in search of care, aiming to understand how the networks of planned and actual hospitalizations take place. To assess the flow of hospitalizations outside the place of residence, we used the concepts of complex networks. Our findings indicate that the current distribution of health facilities in Bahia, Brazil, is not sufficient to effectively reduce the distances traveled by patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization. We believe that unnecessary trips to distant hospitals can put both the sick and the healthy involved in the transport process at risk, further delaying the stabilization of the COVID-19 pandemic in each region of the state of Bahia. From the results found, we concluded that, to mitigate this situation, the implementation of health units in countries with limited resources should be based on scientific methods, and international collaborations should be established. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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12 pages, 2138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Competency-Based Triage Education Application on Emergency Nurses’ Triage Competency and Performance

by Sun-Hee Moon and In-Young Cho

Healthcare 2022, 10(4), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10040596 - 22 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5981

Abstract

The Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) is used to determine emergency patient priority. The purpose of this study was to develop the Competency-Based Triage Education Application (CTEA) using KTAS and evaluate its effectiveness on emergency nurses’ triage competency and performance. The developed [...] Read more.

The Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) is used to determine emergency patient priority. The purpose of this study was to develop the Competency-Based Triage Education Application (CTEA) using KTAS and evaluate its effectiveness on emergency nurses’ triage competency and performance. The developed CTEA mobile application comprised 4 lectures, 12 text-based cases, and 8 video-based triage scenarios. A quasi-experimental pre-post design with a comparison group (CG) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the CTEA. Thirty-one participants were assigned to an intervention group (IG) and used the application for at least 100 min over one week. Thirty-five participants were assigned to a CG and underwent book-based learning, which covered the same content as the CTEA. Triage competency (t = 2.55, p = 0.013) and performance (t = 2.11, p = 0.039) were significantly improved in the IG. The IG’s undertriage error was significantly reduced compared to that of the CG (t = 2.08, p = 0.041). These results indicated that the CTEA was effective in improving the emergency nurses’ triage competency and performance. This application will be useful as a program for providing repeated and continuous triage education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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14 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Addressing Uncertainty by Designing an Intelligent Fuzzy System to Help Decision Support Systems for Winter Road Maintenance

by Mahshid Hatamzad, Geanette Polanco Pinerez and Johan Casselgren

Safety 2022, 8(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety8010014 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3911

Abstract

One of the main challenges in developing efficient and effective winter road maintenance is to design an accurate prediction model for the road surface friction coefficient. A reliable and accurate prediction model of road surface friction coefficient can help decision support systems to [...] Read more.

One of the main challenges in developing efficient and effective winter road maintenance is to design an accurate prediction model for the road surface friction coefficient. A reliable and accurate prediction model of road surface friction coefficient can help decision support systems to significantly increase traffic safety, while saving time and cost. High dynamicity in weather and road surface conditions can lead to the presence of uncertainties in historical data extracted by sensors. To overcome this issue, this study uses an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system that can appropriately address uncertainty using fuzzy logic neural networks. To investigate the ability of the proposed model to predict the road surface friction coefficient, real data were measured at equal time intervals using optical sensors and road-mounted sensors. Then, the most critical features were selected based on the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the dataset was split into two independent training and test datasets. Next, the input variables were fuzzified by generating a fuzzy inference system using the fuzzy c-means clustering method. After training the model, a testing set was used to validate the trained model. The model was evaluated by means of graphical and numerical metrics. The results show that the constructed adaptive neuro-fuzzy model has an excellent ability to learn and accurately predict the road surface friction coefficient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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10 pages, 2545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Service Capability of Primary Health Institutions under the Hierarchical Medical System

by Shuo Liu, Jintao Lin, Yiwen He and Junfang Xu

Healthcare 2022, 10(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10020335 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1993

Abstract

Background: Primary health institutions (PHIs) are the foundation of the whole health system and the basic link to achieve the goal of all people enjoying primary health care. However, the service capability of primary health institutions is not under the hierarchical medical system. [...] Read more.

Background: Primary health institutions (PHIs) are the foundation of the whole health system and the basic link to achieve the goal of all people enjoying primary health care. However, the service capability of primary health institutions is not under the hierarchical medical system. Method: Data were collected from the China Health Statistics Yearbook between 2014 and 2020. PHIs included community health centres, community health stations, and township hospitals in our study. The service capability of primary health institutions was analysed from the perspective of structure, process, and results. Structure capability was evaluated using the number of beds, number of personnel, number of health technicians, and proportion of the number of personnel in PHIs accounting for the total number of health personnel. Process capability was evaluated using the number of general practitioners. The number of outpatients and inpatients, medical income, the proportion of drug income, and the average number of patients and beds served by physicians in PHIs per day were employed to evaluate the resulting capability. Results: From 2014 to 2020, the number of community health service centres/stations increased, while the number of township health centres decreased. In the aspect of structure capability, the total number of personnel and health technicians in community health centres/stations and township hospitals both increased during 2014 and 2020. However, the increasing rate in PHIs was a little bit less than that of general medical institutions. The proportion of male health technicians in community health centres and township hospitals both decreased, while the proportion of female technicians in both increased. From 2014 to 2020, the number of beds in PHIs also increased from 138.12 × 10⁴ to 164.94 × 10⁴. However, the proportion of beds in PHIs accounting for the total number of beds in medical institutions decreased. For the resulting capability, from 2014 to 2019, the proportion of diagnosis and treatment times in PHIs decreased from 57.41% to 51.96%, although it increased in 2020. The proportion of inpatients in PHIs decreased from 20.03% to 16.11%. From 2014 to 2020, the utilisation rate of hospital beds in PHIs decreased (from 55.6% to 34% for community health centres and 60.5% to 53.6% for township hospitals). The average daily bed days of doctors in township hospitals was higher than that of doctors in community health service centres. However, the average medical cost of outpatients and the per capita medical cost of inpatients in community health service centres were higher than in township hospitals. Conclusion: In recent years, although the service capability showed an increasing trend in PHIs, the growth rate was lower than the general health institutions. The utilisation rates of PHIs, including beds and physicians, were decreased. Among PHIs, the utilisation in township hospitals was higher than in community health centres with a relatively low price. Under the hierarchical medical system and normalisation period of the COVID-19 epidemic, it is important to improve the service capability to achieve its goal of increasing PHI utilisation and decreasing secondary and tertiary hospital utilisation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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11 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of the Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving Skills, and Grit on the Disaster Triage Ability of Emergency Room Nurses

by Jina Yang and Kon Hee Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020987 - 16 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2533

Abstract

In this descriptive study, we aimed to identify factors related to emergency room nurses’ disaster triage ability. A total of 166 nurses who worked for emergency departments of general hospitals completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Disaster Triage Ability Scale (DTAS), the [...] Read more.

In this descriptive study, we aimed to identify factors related to emergency room nurses’ disaster triage ability. A total of 166 nurses who worked for emergency departments of general hospitals completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Disaster Triage Ability Scale (DTAS), the Strategic Thinking Scale (STS), the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI), and the Original Grit Scale (Grit-O). The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0 by means of descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, the Scheffé post hoc test, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Participants’ DTAS averaged 14.03 ± 4.28 (Range 0–20) and showed a statistically significant difference according to their experience of triage education (t = 2.26, p = 0.022) as a disaster triage-related attribute. There were significant correlations among DTAS and confidence in the PSI (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), the approach-avoidance style in the PSI (r = −0.28, p < 0.001), and futurism in the STS (r = 0.19, p = 0.019). The strongest predictor was confidence in the PSI; in addition, 14.1% of the DTAS was explained by confidence in the PSI, approach-avoidance in the PSI, and futurism in the STS. Emergency room nurses who received triage education showed a higher level of the DTAS and their DTAS could be explained by problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement triage education programs integrated with stress management to improve the approach-avoidance style to ensure better problem-solving skills and to utilize various training methods to enhance confidence to improve problem-solving skills and futurism as part of strategic thinking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

27 pages, 8849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Civilian-Military Collaboration before and during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Systematic Review and a Pilot Survey among Practitioners

by Amir Khorram-Manesh, Luc J. Mortelmans, Yohan Robinson, Frederick M. Burkle and Krzysztof Goniewicz

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020624 - 06 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 8836

Abstract

Due to the similarity in skills and assets, Civilian-Military collaboration has emerged as one of the most reliable partnerships during the disaster and public health emergency management to address all necessary elements of surge capacity, i.e., staff, stuff, structure (space), and systems. This [...] Read more.

Due to the similarity in skills and assets, Civilian-Military collaboration has emerged as one of the most reliable partnerships during the disaster and public health emergency management to address all necessary elements of surge capacity, i.e., staff, stuff, structure (space), and systems. This study aimed to evaluate this collaboration before and during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic. The outcomes of the systematic review revealed several published reports on successful civilian-military collaboration and proposed a need for further improvement. One hundred sixty-six individuals from 19 countries responded to nine questions, included in an online survey with the possibility to leave comments if necessary. The questionnaire referred to elements such as command and control, safety, communication, assessment, triage, treatment, and transport, as the crucial components of emergency management. The comprehensive examination of the survey results together with registered comments revealed a possible improvement in collaboration particularly on the strategic levels, i.e., meetings at the command-and-control level, safety, communication, and networking issues. While logistic collaboration seemed to be unchanged, the practical parts of the collaboration, i.e., clinical and non-clinical operational partnership (Triage and Treatment), mutual education, training, and operational understanding of each organization remained unchanged. In conclusion, although the current pandemic may have facilitated a more intense collaboration between civilian and military healthcare organizations, it lacks practical partnership and operative engagement, representing two crucial elements necessary for harmony and compatibility of both systems. Such collaboration may require a political will and perhaps a mutual civilian-military authority. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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21 pages, 17486 KiB

Open AccessReview

Decontamination Methods of N95 Respirators Contaminated with SARS-CoV-2

by Thirumaaran Gopalan, Rabi’atul ‘Adawiyah Mohd Yatim, Mohd Ridha Muhamad, Nor Shafina Mohamed Nazari, N. Awanis Hashim, Jacob John and Victor Chee Wai Hoe

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12474; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212474 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2667

Abstract

In the preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly the face mask, is essential. Shortage of PPE due to growing demand leaves health workers at significant risk as they fight this pandemic on the [...] Read more.

In the preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly the face mask, is essential. Shortage of PPE due to growing demand leaves health workers at significant risk as they fight this pandemic on the frontline. As a mitigation measure to overcome potential mask shortages, these masks could be decontaminated and prepared for reuse. This review explored past scientific research on various methods of decontamination of the N95-type respirators and their efficiency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) show great potential as an effective decontamination system. In addition, UVGI and HPV exhibit excellent effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the N95 respirator surfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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11 pages, 787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can a Healthcare Quality Improvement Initiative Reduce Disparity in the Treatment Delay among ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients with Different Arrival Modes? Evidence from 33 General Hospitals and Their Anticipated Impact on Healthcare during Disasters and Public Health Emergencies

by Na Li, Junxiong Ma, Shuduo Zhou, Xuejie Dong, Mailikezhati Maimaitiming, Yinzi Jin and Zhijie Zheng

Healthcare 2021, 9(11), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9111462 - 28 Oct 2021

Viewed by 2213

Abstract

(1) Background: Chest pain center accreditation has been associated with improved timelines of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, evidence from low- and middle-income regions was insufficient, and whether the sensitivity to improvements differs between walk-in and [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Chest pain center accreditation has been associated with improved timelines of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, evidence from low- and middle-income regions was insufficient, and whether the sensitivity to improvements differs between walk-in and emergency medical service (EMS)-transported patients remained unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the association of chest pain center accreditation status with door-to-balloon (D2B) time and the potential modification effect of arrival mode. (2) Methods: The associations were examined using generalized linear mixed models, and the effect modification of arrival mode was examined by incorporating an interaction term in the models. (3) Results: In 4186 STEMI patients, during and after accreditation were respectively associated with 65% (95% CI: 54%, 73%) and 71% (95% CI: 61%, 79%) reduced risk of D2B time being more than 90 min (using before accreditation as the reference). Decreases of 27.88 (95% CI: 19.57, 36.22) minutes and 26.55 (95% CI: 17.45, 35.70) minutes in D2B were also observed for the during and after accreditation groups, respectively. The impact of accreditation on timeline improvement was greater for EMS-transported patients than for walk-in patients. (4) Conclusions: EMS-transported patients were more sensitive to the shortened in-hospital delay associated with the initiative, which could exacerbate the existing disparity among patients with different arrival modes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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11 pages, 337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Work-Related Stress among Rescue Workers in Traumatic Mass-Casualty Disasters

by Yu-Long Chen, Wen-Chii Tzeng, En Chao and Hui-Hsun Chiang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8340; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168340 - 06 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2109

Abstract

Rescue workers are a population at high-risk for mental problems as they are exposed to work-related stress from confrontation with traumatic events when responding to a disaster. A reliable measure is needed to assess rescue workers’ work-related stress from their surveillance of a [...] Read more.

Rescue workers are a population at high-risk for mental problems as they are exposed to work-related stress from confrontation with traumatic events when responding to a disaster. A reliable measure is needed to assess rescue workers’ work-related stress from their surveillance of a disaster scene to help prevent severe PTSD and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Work-Related Stress Scale (WRSS) designed to measure stress in rescue workers after responding to traumatic mass-casualty events. An exploratory sequential mixed methods procedure was employed. The qualitative phase of the item generation component involved in-depth interviews of 7 experienced rescue workers from multiple specialties who had taken part in 1 or 2 mass-casualty events: the 2018 Hualien earthquake or the 2016 Tainan earthquake. In the quantitative phase, a modified Delphi approach was used to achieve consensus ratings by the same 7 raters on the items and to assess content validity. Construct validity was determined by confirmatory factor analysis using a broader sample of 293 rescue workers who had taken part in 1 of 2 mass-casualty events: the 2018 Hualien earthquake or the 2021 Hualien train derailment. The final WRSS consists of 16 items total and 4 subscales: Physical Demands, Psychological Response, Environmental Interruption, and Leadership, with aggregated alphas of 0.74–0.88. The WRSS was found to have psychometric integrity as a measure of stress in rescue workers after responding to a disaster. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Multiagency Approach to Disaster Management, Focusing on Triage, Treatment and Transport)

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