Mental wellbeing considerations in preparation for disaster healthcare: perceptions of deployed emergency staff

Researcher: Tytti Mäkinen; Supervisor: Sari Miettinen

The mental wellbeing of internationally deployed disaster relief workers has become an issue of concern. Many disaster situations to where humanitarian workers are deployed involve conflict with an ensuing threat of violence toward workers, in addition to exposure to stress, culture shock, witnessing trauma, fatigue and so on. The psychological consequences of these have been documented in research, however the role of training and preparation in supporting mental wellbeing has not received due attention, despite research indicating the need for it. Perceptions of the workers themselves of its efficacy and relevance has been researched minimally.

This qualitative study examines the perceptions of volunteers of a small international disaster relief organisation in regard to the pre-deployment preparation they have received and its appropriateness and effectiveness in supporting the volunteers' mental wellbeing.

Disaster preparedness among medical and nursing personnel

Researcher: Kossioris Aristomenis

Background:
Disasters, as regards the health sector, are considered a sudden or gradual disease of an entire community, which is impossible to confront adequately without external assistance.

Aim:
The aim of the study was to explore the disaster preparedness among medical and nursing personnel.

Methods:
The statistical sample of this study consisted of 364 health care professionals. A special questionnaire designed by Fung et al in 2007 was used. Statistical analysis was produced using SPSS 17 and the performance of the chi-square test.

Results:
By the descriptive analysis it was detected that the biggest percentage of the medical and nursing personnel (61%) considered themselves not adequately prepared for disasters. Of the study participants, 64.6% stated that if a disaster happen in their workplace they would follow the hospital disaster plan to manage the situation, while 55.7% they did not know if there is a disaster plan in their workplace. 81,8% considered as disaster the fires in Peloponnese and Evia in 2007, while 30.3% the aviation accident in Grammatiko area in 2005. 77.1% stated that the occurrence of earthquake is a very likely possibility for the Greek territory, while 77.5% stated as unlikely the possibility of a nuclear accident. By the statistical analysis it was detected that the administrative nurses perceived themselves more frequently as prepared for disaster management (p=0.002), as well those who have done postgraduate studies (p=0.047) and those who had participated in any disaster management educational activity in their workplace (p<0.001).
 
Conclusions:
Education and training affects positively the knowledge on disasters and the health-related disaster preparedness, therefore, it is necessary for the health care professionals, when in an undergraduate level, to attend more relevant courses.

Identifying the Need for First Responder Training for CONUS Deployed National Guardsmen

Researcher: Anthony Bevers

The purpose of this study is to explore the need for specialized first responder type training for the National Guard. Currently, there are gaps in specialized first aid training for the National Guard's secondary mission of Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). The Army's Combat Life Saver (CLS) course is not adequate to fulfill the special circumstances the DSCA mission. This mixed methods study seeks to increase the capability of the National Guard’s response to disasters and individual aid in the community in times of need.

Questions the study will seek: Is there a need for the training? 

Review of existing related literature will be completed. A review of the number of incidents where non-medical Service Members responded will be conducted. Interviews with non-medical Soldiers and Airmen will be conducted.

 Is the training effective and relevant? 

The author has already compiled the curriculum of the CLS Supplement (CLS2) course and will seek the efficacy of relevance of the curriculum with testing on small groups of Soldiers.

 End State 

Service Members who attend the two day course will be more confident and competent to address the unique aspects of the CONUS prehospital disaster environment. The results of this study will be submitted to the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG) for review and implementation as standard training for the TXARNG.

Future Cooperation

At this time, I am not collaborating with another researcher, but I would be happy to take on interested parties to co-author the study.

Study of Czech Republic EMS preparedness: large number of injuries and casualties - bus accident

Researcher: Ondrej Prudel

Czech Republic became an important transit country for international road transport after joining the EU. This led to an increasing traffic situation with many buses on the roads. My research forms part of a university theses analyses situation of Czech EMS, and how it is solved with large number of bus accident injuries and casualties. Aims of the research are to analyse the continous process of eduacation of paramedics, such as: drills, EMS equipment, overall preparedness, how was bus accidents solved in the past (triage, transportation, crisis preparedness), differents between drills and true situation.

Hypothesis of project are:
1) Czech EMS are prepared to solve bus accident situation, and
2) Drill trainings help to improve preparedness of local EMS

Perceptions of preparedness among nurses for disaster management in Saudi Arabia

Researchers: Abdulellah Al Thobaity, Virginia Plummer, Kelli Innes, Beverley Copnell

This study seeks to document the preparedness of nurses in Saudi Arabia, based on a study by Murad A. Al Khalaileh, Elaine Bond and Jafar A. Alasad of nurses’ preparedness in Jordan in 2011. To date, there are no documented studies about disaster preparedness among nurses in Saudi Arabia found in the literature. This study will, for the first time, inform employers, nurse educators and emergency services about the level of preparedness of the largest sector of the emergency health workforce in Saudi Arabia. The study aims to describe the awareness of nurses in Saudi Arabia regarding knowledge, skills and preparedness for disaster management and to inform nurse educators, employers and emergency services about what nurses need to assist them in their role.

Perceptions of Military Medical Disaster Response

Researcher: Dawn Higgins

Disaster Response Preparedness, to be effective, needs to become as close to second nature as possible.  Without regular and repetitive practice, contingency plans will be rendered ineffective.  “Doing what we do every day” is not disaster response; each situation is different, but the objectives are the same.  The military population receives specific training and bears the experiences of war‐time medical response and mass casualty incidents; particularly in settings where response capabilities are self‐reliant, thus largely fixed and known.  However, the coordination stateside with large public and private civilian organizations is not often fully incorporated in this training; though in reality, these organizations would fulfill significant roles in any military stateside disaster response.  This study attempts to identify barriers in attitudes and buy‐in with regards to motivation and participation in medical disaster preparedness at a military Level 1 trauma center emergency department.  Results of this study will be used in future training programs to enhance participation and improve training efficacy of military medical personnel for better disaster response.