Teacher-Mediated Interventions to Support Child Mental Health Following a Disaster: A Systematic Review
Conclusion
Teacher-mediated interventions may have the potential to improve child and adolescent mental health after a disaster, although findings are inconclusive. International studies provide a useful guide for the development, implementation and evaluation of teacher-mediated disaster-response mental health programs for Australian schools. Further investigation is necessary before conclusions can be drawn about the applicability of these identified international interventions to the Australian rural and remote context. In the absence of recommendations for evidence-based teacher-mediated disaster interventions, resourc...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - December 8, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Jacqueline Coombe Source Type: research
Criteria for Site Selection of Temporary Shelters after Earthquakes: a Delphi Panel
Conclusion
This study developed a list of criteria which could be used in selecting proper sites for temporary sheltering after an earthquake. Community planners could use these criteria in related models or systems to choose suitable sites for emergency situations. Developing and applying such models should be done in the preparedness phase.
The consent of the affected people and cost reduction of the operation would be the minimum benefits of such an approach. This approach also allows the researchers to start making objective and reproducible assessments of sheltering site selection and helps to improve the outcome ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - November 23, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ahmad Soltani Source Type: research
Who Is Worst Off? Developing a Severity-scoring Model of Complex Emergency Affected Countries in Order to Ensure Needs Based Funding
This study has several limitations. It is based on the assumption that needs and level of severity are interchangeable. A small group of experts, who were also the authors, selected the indicators and developed the model. However, the experts, who all have experience with CE, needs assessments, and academia, have explained in detail the process of selection for the indicators and priorities.
The main challenge for this model has been how to balance pragmatism with robust scientific methods. It was important to develop a model that could be used easily, rather than a complex model that may have strong theoretical validi...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - November 3, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Anneli Eriksson Source Type: research
Mass Casualty Decontamination in a Chemical or Radiological/Nuclear Incident with External Contamination: Guiding Principles and Research Needs
Conclusion
The GHSI Chemical Events and Radiological/Nuclear Threat Working Groups have identified current challenges to effective casualty decontamination in a mass exposure incident. Application of the guiding principles described here to preparedness, planning, and response activities will help to improve effectiveness of decontamination as well as other aspects of the medical management of casualties in a mass exposure incident, based on our current scientific understanding. Research programs designed to address the priority research needs will strengthen the scientific evidence, upon which further improvements in prep...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - November 2, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Susan M Cibulsky Source Type: research
An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Heat Index and Arrivals in the Emergency Department
Conclusion
This study found that when the heat index stayed high for several days in a row (regardless of a declared heat emergency) the ED saw an increased volume of lower acuity patients. However, this pattern was non-linear, first falling as the heat index increased and then increasing again, a pattern not previously described. Moreover, our results demonstrate that increased heat also increases patient LOS, which together with increased arrivals increases crowding in the ED. Operational considerations as a result of this data may include increasing just in time staffing given the extended clinical nature of the events ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - October 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Eili Y. Klein Source Type: research
2011 Joplin, Missouri Tornado Experience, Mental Health Reactions, and Service Utilization: Cross-Sectional Assessments at Approximately 6 Months and 2.5 Years Post-Event
Conclusions
We conducted two surveys of Joplin, Missouri residents to examine 2011 tornado experience, mental health reactions, and service utilization following the event. Survey 1 was conducted approximately 6 months after the tornado and utilized an RDD sample. Survey 2 was conducted approximately 2.5 years after the event and utilized a purposive convenience sample and was conducted online.
Probable PTSD prevalence was 12.63% at Survey 1 and 26.74% at Survey 2, while current depression prevalence was 20.82% at Survey 1 and 13.33% at Survey 2. The increase of probable PTSD from Survey 1 to Survey 2 may be related, i...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - October 26, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: bhouston Source Type: research
Kindling Kindness for Compassionate Disaster Management
Perspective
In recent years, evidence has emerged that disaster management places significant burdens on those tasked with carrying out planning, response and recovery functions, especially where human contact is involved1,2,3. Research has identified that rescue and recovery workers engaged in disaster relief are at increased risk of developing mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety4. They are also at increased risk of empathy exhaustion, burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatisation5. In addition to this, an increasing number of hereto thought of low-frequency-hi...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - October 5, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: sarbjitjohal Source Type: research
Identifying and Describing the Impact of Cyclone, Storm and Flood Related Disasters on Treatment Management, Care and Exacerbations of Non-communicable Diseases and the Implications for Public Health
Conclusion
Cyclone, flood and storm related disasters impact on treatment management and overall care for people with NCDs. This results in an increased risk of exacerbation of illness or even death. The interruption may be caused by a range of factors, such as damaged transport routes, reduced health services, loss of power and evacuations. The health impact varies according to the NCD. For people with chronic respiratory diseases, a disaster increases the risk of acute exacerbation. Meanwhile, for people with cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes there is an increased risk of their illness exacerbating, which can ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - September 28, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: jc164421 Source Type: research
Hospital Disaster Preparedness Tools: a Systematic Review
Conclusion
Study findings indicate that because the HDP tools have not been developed through the process of psychometric evaluation, some indicators of HDP might have remained neglected. HDP can be evaluated by valid and reliable tools which are developed in careful methodological studies through psychometric evaluation process 12. Study findings also showed that currently, there is no comprehensive tool for evaluating HDP. One of the weaknesses of the current tools is their inability to evaluate all aspects of HDP including; structural, non-structural and functional. These tools mainly focus on the structural and non-str...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - September 14, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Heidaranlu Source Type: research
Analysis of Landslides Triggered by October 2005, Kashmir Earthquake
Conclusion
Kashmir earthquake caused thousands of landslides and made many slopes unstable. The Kashmir area is highly prone to landslide hazards due to its geology and structures. Mass movements can easily be triggered by slight tremors in the region. Shaking from any major future earthquake will cause liquefaction of soil, hence causing the slope to lose cohesion. Older landslides can also be activated from earthquake induced landslides. Undercutting of slopes by river erosion and human activities are the main reasons for secondary failures. More than 50% of landslides were caused by human impacts like conversion of fore...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - August 26, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: irfan11 Source Type: research
Upstream Disaster Management to Support People Experiencing Homelessness
Conclusions
People who are homeless or experiencing housing insecurity face tremendous challenges in day-to-day living; basic needs must be prioritized over disaster preparedness. Upstream strategies that address social determinants of health can contribute to adaptive capacity across individual, organizational and community levels. Creating opportunities for inter-organizational collaboration between all levels of government and organizations providing front line supports for people who are chronically or episodically homeless is an important investment to enhance adaptive capacity. Continuity of operations planning for c...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - August 18, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tracey O'Sullivan Source Type: research
Virtual Disaster Simulation: Lesson Learned from an International Collaboration That Can Be Leveraged for Disaster Education in Iran
Conclusion
With reflection on this assessment of the application of new technologies in disaster management simulation training in mind, we conclude by calling for support and extended collaboration within and outside Iran from all concerned to effectively incorporate virtual simulation with the ultimate goal of endowing disaster professionals with field-based and practical skills in Iran. The same call should also be made beyond Iran to other countries and regions known to be embroiled in devastating disasters.
Competing Interest
Ali Ardalan, Joseph Kimuli Balikuddembe, and Ali Akbarisari have declared that no competing...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - July 13, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ali Ardalan Source Type: research
Correction: Can Medical Decision-making at the Scene by EMS Staff Reduce the Number of Unnecessary Ambulance Transportations, but Still Be Safe?
Correction
The affiliation for the first author is incorrect. The complete, correct affiliation is: Prehospital and Disaster Medicine Centre, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden; Faculty of Shiraz University of Medical sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Reference
Peyravi M, Örtenwall P, Khorram-Manesh A. Can Medical Decision-making at the Scene by EMS Staff Reduce the Number of Unnecessary Ambulance Transportations, but Still Be Safe?. PLOS Currents Disasters. 2015 Jun 30 . Edition 1. doi: 10.1371/currents.dis.f426e7108516af698c8debf18810aa0a. (Source: PLOS Currents Disasters)
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - July 9, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: ploscurrents Source Type: research
Application of Behavioral Theories to Disaster and Emergency Health Preparedness: A Systematic Review
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the articles archived and selected, behavioral theories and models are applied to disasters and emergencies preparedness more commonly in developed countries (USA and Europe). In Asia, where the annual number of disasters events and victims exceed those in other continents, only 3 studies applying behavioral theories and models to disasters and emergencies were identifies. This identified a need for additional research to target the use of behavioral change theories in the Asian countries that bear the brunt of disasters and their consequences. This does not, however, mean that these theories have not ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - July 1, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Luche Tadesse Ejeta Source Type: research
Post Disaster Governance, Complexity and Network Theory
Conclusion
Large-scale disaster risks bring their own typology of actors’ networks. However, the network is not randomly formed. Interestingly, the network diameter reflects the real world network. This seems to be counter intuitive, as people may think that the level of ties or connection between any two humanitarian actors in a specific disaster affected geography can be less than real world individual networks. It is clear that without understanding the landscape of complexity, government authority may not be able to create ‘organized behavior’ among nearly thousands of reconstruction players to guaranty qua...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - July 1, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: tanlas Source Type: research
