Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study
Background: The health and safety of people are often endangered during emergencies and disasters. Efficient emergency management systems ensure that mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions exist to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Failure to carry out appropr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X23000216 |
| _version_ | 1797731005197451264 |
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| author | Estella Antoinette Boateng-Osei Isaac Osei Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji Bernice Agyeman Pambour Rejoice Wireko-Gyebi Portia Okyere Alberta Yemotsoo Lomotey |
| author_facet | Estella Antoinette Boateng-Osei Isaac Osei Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji Bernice Agyeman Pambour Rejoice Wireko-Gyebi Portia Okyere Alberta Yemotsoo Lomotey |
| author_sort | Estella Antoinette Boateng-Osei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The health and safety of people are often endangered during emergencies and disasters. Efficient emergency management systems ensure that mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions exist to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Failure to carry out appropriate responses can have adverse consequences for both emergency responders and casualties; hence, the need for emergency preparedness. This study sought to assess the state of emergency preparedness capacity of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology hospital in Ghana. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2018 and February 2019 using three guidelines developed respectively by the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health-Ghana, and the Ghana Health Service. The hospital's emergency preparedness was assessed regarding the emergency policies, plan, protocol, equipment, and medications. Results: Overall, the hospital's emergency preparedness level was weak (57.36%). Findings revealed that the hospital had inadequate emergency equipment, and supplies for emergency care delivery, especially during upsurge. It also did not have an emergency planning committee. There were noticeable deficiencies in some emergency resources such as chest tubes, basic airway supplies, and many emergency drugs. Other vital emergency tools such as pulse oximeter, thermometer, and emergency medications were inadequate. The hospital had a strong emergency plan and policies on assessment (77.8% and 78%) respectively. Conclusion: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology hospital is not prepared sufficiently for an emergency surge, and this poses a major health challenge. Emergency items must be made available, and the organization and planning of emergency service provisions must be improved to avoid preventable deaths during an emergency surge. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:53:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3284619e3346403cb7a9b4f2369afdb1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-419X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:53:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-3284619e3346403cb7a9b4f2369afdb12023-08-31T05:02:35ZengElsevierAfrican Journal of Emergency Medicine2211-419X2023-09-01133152156Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional studyEstella Antoinette Boateng-Osei0Isaac Osei1Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji2Bernice Agyeman Pambour3Rejoice Wireko-Gyebi4Portia Okyere5Alberta Yemotsoo Lomotey6University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Nursing, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Corresponding author.MRC Unit, The Gambia at LSHTM Atlantic Boulevard, FajaraDepartment of Nursing, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaEjisu Government Hospital, Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ashanti Region, GhanaDepartment of Planning and Sustainability, University of Energy and Natural Resources, SunyaniDepartment of Public Health Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Nursing, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaBackground: The health and safety of people are often endangered during emergencies and disasters. Efficient emergency management systems ensure that mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions exist to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Failure to carry out appropriate responses can have adverse consequences for both emergency responders and casualties; hence, the need for emergency preparedness. This study sought to assess the state of emergency preparedness capacity of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology hospital in Ghana. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2018 and February 2019 using three guidelines developed respectively by the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health-Ghana, and the Ghana Health Service. The hospital's emergency preparedness was assessed regarding the emergency policies, plan, protocol, equipment, and medications. Results: Overall, the hospital's emergency preparedness level was weak (57.36%). Findings revealed that the hospital had inadequate emergency equipment, and supplies for emergency care delivery, especially during upsurge. It also did not have an emergency planning committee. There were noticeable deficiencies in some emergency resources such as chest tubes, basic airway supplies, and many emergency drugs. Other vital emergency tools such as pulse oximeter, thermometer, and emergency medications were inadequate. The hospital had a strong emergency plan and policies on assessment (77.8% and 78%) respectively. Conclusion: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology hospital is not prepared sufficiently for an emergency surge, and this poses a major health challenge. Emergency items must be made available, and the organization and planning of emergency service provisions must be improved to avoid preventable deaths during an emergency surge.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X23000216EmergencyPreparednessResourcesEmergency planCasualty servicesMedical services |
| spellingShingle | Estella Antoinette Boateng-Osei Isaac Osei Abigail Kusi-Amponsah Diji Bernice Agyeman Pambour Rejoice Wireko-Gyebi Portia Okyere Alberta Yemotsoo Lomotey Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study African Journal of Emergency Medicine Emergency Preparedness Resources Emergency plan Casualty services Medical services |
| title | Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | emergency preparedness capacity of a university hospital in ghana a cross sectional study |
| topic | Emergency Preparedness Resources Emergency plan Casualty services Medical services |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X23000216 |
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