Support Needs for Canadian Health Providers Responding to Disaster: New Insights from a Grounded Theory Approach
This study was approved by an academic Research Ethics Board.
Participants were made aware that their information would remain confidential, and were required to sign a form of informed consent prior to the start of the interview. The participants were asked questions, according to a semi-structured interview guide, regarding their general experiences in Haiti. In addition, responders were asked to answer questions regarding specific elements of the support systems offered to them before, during, and after deployment. Finally, they were asked to reflect on the effectiveness of the existing systems of support, and ident...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - July 1, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Christine Fahim Source Type: research
Can Medical Decision-making at the Scene by EMS Staff Reduce the Number of Unnecessary Ambulance Transportations, but Still Be Safe?
Conclusion
We advocate a correct selection of patients discharged from the scene or left at home by EMS. Using a standardized protocol, which eliminates the bias made by different staff and physicians may safeguard this process 29. The results could be indicative for a prospective study and have an impact to improve the process and selection of the patients that should be transported to the hospital or can safely be discharged directly.
Limitation
One limitation of this study is the lack of a 30-day follow-up of the patients after being discharged at the scene and the lack of autopsy results. In both cas...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - June 30, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: peyravi110 at gmail.com Source Type: research
Twitter as a Potential Disaster Risk Reduction Tool. Part I: Introduction, Terminology, Research and Operational Applications
Conclusions
Twitter is but one of many electronic communication tools available today and used by a worldwide population. This study describes the methodology by which Twitter was investigated as a possible communications tool for disasters and as an essential disaster risk reduction and management tool at the community level. By understanding how these various factors contribute to superspreading of messages, one can better optimize Twitter as a potential risk communication and disaster risk reduction tool. Parts II, III, and IV of this study further detail the technological and scientific base necessary for the community...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - June 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Guy Paul Cooper Jr. Source Type: research
Twitter as a Potential Disaster Risk Reduction Tool. Part II: Descriptive Analysis of Identified Twitter Activity during the 2013 Hattiesburg F4 Tornado
Conclusions
This study describes the technically detailed methodological application of the novel triangulation methodology used to filter the haystack of tweets transmitted during the 2013 Hattiesburg Tornado among those captured from the over 2 billion tweets in the 96 hour window of the storm that were emitted on the Twitterverse. The data generated from the approach provides a descriptive analysis of the regional Twitter activity 48 hours pre- and post- Hattiesburg Tornado. By being able to target a subset of a population, rapid information dissemination is possible leading to a potential improvement in morbidity and m...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - June 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Guy Paul Cooper Jr. Source Type: research
Twitter as a Potential Disaster Risk Reduction Tool. Part III: Evaluating Variables that Promoted Regional Twitter Use for At-risk Populations During the 2013 Hattiesburg F4 Tornado
Conclusions
Twitter’s unique features allow it to be considered a unique social media tool applicable for emergency managers and public health officials for rapid and accurate two-way communication. Additionally, understanding how and if a variable can be manipulated plays a key role in understanding how to use this social media platform for effective, accurate, and rapid mass information communication. This knowledge will create a better framework for understanding how to create and alter messages that will be effectively received by the at-risk population and potentially mitigate adverse outcomes. This platform can be ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - June 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Guy Paul Cooper Jr. Source Type: research
Twitter as a Potential Disaster Risk Reduction Tool. Part IV: Competency-based Education and Training Guidelines to Promote Community Resiliency
Conclusions
Twitter, if properly harnessed, can aid public health providers in providing low cost and effective disaster risk reduction and management. This process has the potential of meeting all the basic public health functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance. It is also likely that the above competencies may be broadened for daily public health functions and tasks. Planners must not lose sight that this process should be accomplished as part of community planning especially in disaster-prone communities and regions worldwide. The evidence provided by these studies originated from a disaster prone area...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - June 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Violet Yeager Source Type: research
Supporting Rural Australian Communities after Disaster: the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service
Conclusion
Overall, both former service users and key stakeholders were satisfied with their interactions and experiences with the Warrumbungle BSCS. Former service users indicated that they sought support from the BSCS for administration, financial and personal support. However, not all of the former service users reported that they felt confident seeking out these services without the aid of the BSCS. Additionally, while key stakeholders reported positive outcomes of the BSCS and their involvement with the service, there were a number of challenges and suggested improvements put forward. The survey and interviews were a ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - June 1, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Jacqueline Coombe Source Type: research
Political Leadership in the Time of Crises: Primum non Nocere
Introduction
“…the scary thing is that I want a leader who consults experts and thinks about all of the different sides to an issue before making statements and policies that are unfounded in science.”
— Kaci Hickox, RN a quarantined nurse, February 2015
A failure in the timing and content of the expression of risk, both immediate and long term, has always proved a critical misstep in communicating to the public. As the medical crisis appears to be coming to a tenuous closure in West Africa it is time to reflect on the response to Ebola in the United States which unfortunately resulted in a manufactur...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - May 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Frederick M. Burkle, Jr. Source Type: research
The Duration of an Exposure Response Gradient between Incident Obstructive Airways Disease and Work at the World Trade Center Site: 2001-2011
We examined how lower respiratory symptoms were associated with OAD diagnoses within individuals. Table 3 shows the relationship of physician diagnoses of OAD to prior self-reported OAD symptoms of cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath. Most persons who developed OAD reported symptoms prior to physician diagnosis, and this was true throughout the follow-up period. However, the majority of persons who never received an OAD diagnosis also reported OAD symptoms. Of the 2,286 persons who received an OAD diagnosis during the follow-up period, 1,934 (84.6%) took a medical monitoring questionnaire and completed the question on s...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - May 20, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Charles Hall Source Type: research
Moving Forward after Sendai: How Countries Want to Use Science, Evidence and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction
Conclusions
Science hastens progress. Countries have clearly demanded greater science for DRR, having identified a range of science and technology related needs, including through the Sendai Framework for DRR. Across regions and development levels, countries are seeking to address the gaps they face in scientific capacities and information. As an essential component to the development of countries, the entire science community has the opportunity to capitalize and compound benefits from existing disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientific organisations and technical tools to best serve countries’ DRR priorities. As we ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - May 14, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: calkinsj Source Type: research
Landscape of WASH-relevant Training for Humanitarian Emergencies
In this study the terms “certificates” and “certification” are used as defined elsewhere7. The professionalisation of the humanitarian sector is currently being discussed6. Relevant professional qualifications for WASH professionals are varied (e.g. engineers, social sciences, environmental or public health related disciplines), thus the professionalisation of humanitarian WASH workers may be a challenge. Moreover, many of such professionals are frequently certified through other professional organisations usually at a national level. On the other hand, minimum standards in humanitarian WASH interventions do exist9...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - May 11, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Caetano Source Type: research
Foreign Medical Teams in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan 2013 – Who Were They, When Did They Arrive and What Did They Do?
CONCLUSIONS
More than 100 FMTs were deployed to the Philippines during the fist month following the typhoon, but to date it is still not possible to fully assess neither their activities nor their performance. The WHO FMT classification and standards was useful in classifying incoming FMTs while adherence to standards was difficult to monitor. Better, transparent and consistent FMT reporting is needed. We sadly conclude that despite hard efforts and work and significant WHO support we were not able to fully answer our research aim. The WHO-led process to register FMTs is a promising initiative to improve accountability and...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - May 5, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Kim Brolin Source Type: research
A Systematic Review of the Health Impacts of Mass Earth Movements (Landslides)
Conclusions and recommendations
We conclude that the health impacts of landslides are poorly documented in almost all respects. Causes of death and the nature of injuries suffered in landslides remain almost entirely undocumented in the literature, and there are very few studies of the nature of treatments required by the victims of landslides.
A greater level of information is available with respect to the psychiatric impacts. These studies show that the effects are more substantial than for other types of natural hazards. Probably, this reflects the violence of landslides, but even this evidence is limited. Consequen...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - April 30, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: iaintrk Source Type: research
Correction: An Analysis of Cesarean Section and Emergency Hernia Ratios as Markers of Surgical Capacity in Low-Income Countries Affected by Humanitarian Emergencies from 2008 – 2014 at Médecins sans Frontières Operations Centre Brussels Projects
Correction
The second author’s name is spelled incorrectly. The correct name is: Evan G. Wong. The correct citation is: Stewart B, Wong EG, Papillon-Smith J, Trelles Centurion MA, Dominguez L, Ao S, Jean-Paul BK, Kamal M, Helmand R, Naseer A, Kushner AL. An Analysis of Cesarean Section and Emergency Hernia Ratios as Markers of Surgical Capacity in Low-Income Countries Affected by Humanitarian Emergencies from 2008 – 2014 at Médecins sans Frontières Operations Centre Brussels Projects. PLOS Currents Disasters. 2015 Mar 27. Edition 1. doi: 10.1371/currents.dis.5e30807568eaad09a3e23282ddb41da6.
References
Stewart ...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - April 28, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: ploscurrents Source Type: research
Revitalising Evidence-based Policy for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030: Lessons from Existing International Science Partnerships
Conclusions
Science clearly plays an important role at the international level in informing policy on key issues such as climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem protection and sustainable development. The inception of new science and technology partnerships in the past few years indicates a regeneration of science advisory services at the international level, recognising that scientific inputs are only one component of the science-policy interface. Partnerships such as IPBES and UNSDSN recognise the need to build the capacity of different kinds of actors, including policy makers and scientists, and for two-way, continuo...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - April 23, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Elizabeth Carabine Source Type: research
