Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters

Introduction: At the time of disasters, hospitals are considered as one of the most important facilities which should provide emergency services continuously. The purpose of this study was to determine the functional vulnerability of Tehran hospitals in dealing with natural disasters. Methods: Th...

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Main Authors: Batol Ahmadi, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani, Narjes Tanha, Amjad Mohamadi Bolban Abad, Heshmatollah Asadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Electronic Physician 2016-11-01
Series:Electronic Physician
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5217811/
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author Batol Ahmadi
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani
Narjes Tanha
Amjad Mohamadi Bolban Abad
Heshmatollah Asadi
author_facet Batol Ahmadi
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani
Narjes Tanha
Amjad Mohamadi Bolban Abad
Heshmatollah Asadi
author_sort Batol Ahmadi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: At the time of disasters, hospitals are considered as one of the most important facilities which should provide emergency services continuously. The purpose of this study was to determine the functional vulnerability of Tehran hospitals in dealing with natural disasters. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in educational hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS), in 2013. Of all 26 hospitals, 12 hospitals were selected through single-stage cluster sampling, including six general (Shariati, Amiralam, Sina, Imam, Hazrat Rasoul, Baharlou) and six specialized (Bahrami, Hazrat-e Aliasghar, Shahid rajaie, Roozbeh, Moheb yas, Children Medical Center) hospitals. Data were collected using World Health Organization (WHO) checklist for functional indicators of safe hospitals, recommended for countries with similar climates. Data were collected through interviews with members of hospital crisis committees and direct observations. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 18 using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. Results: Fifty percent of hospitals in the study, in terms of functional vulnerability status, were in satisfactory condition with low level of vulnerability, 41.7% were in the moderate level and 8.3% were in a non-satisfactory condition with high levels of vulnerability. The results of Fisher's exact test showed that there wasn't a significant correlation between functional vulnerability and hospitals lifespan (p=0.99) and type of specialty (p=0.99). Conclusion: As this study, assesses hospitals' main weaknesses in terms of procedures, strategies, plans, human resources, monitoring and evaluation, it is essential that each of these areas be reviewed by hospital managers separately, in order to take significant actions to eliminate their weaknesses.
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spelling doaj.art-d9757303bdda45deb57b1b28f105549e2022-12-21T20:03:43ZengElectronic PhysicianElectronic Physician2008-58422008-58422016-11-018113198320410.19082/3198Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural DisastersBatol AhmadiAbbas Rahimi ForoushaniNarjes TanhaAmjad Mohamadi Bolban AbadHeshmatollah AsadiIntroduction: At the time of disasters, hospitals are considered as one of the most important facilities which should provide emergency services continuously. The purpose of this study was to determine the functional vulnerability of Tehran hospitals in dealing with natural disasters. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in educational hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS), in 2013. Of all 26 hospitals, 12 hospitals were selected through single-stage cluster sampling, including six general (Shariati, Amiralam, Sina, Imam, Hazrat Rasoul, Baharlou) and six specialized (Bahrami, Hazrat-e Aliasghar, Shahid rajaie, Roozbeh, Moheb yas, Children Medical Center) hospitals. Data were collected using World Health Organization (WHO) checklist for functional indicators of safe hospitals, recommended for countries with similar climates. Data were collected through interviews with members of hospital crisis committees and direct observations. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 18 using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. Results: Fifty percent of hospitals in the study, in terms of functional vulnerability status, were in satisfactory condition with low level of vulnerability, 41.7% were in the moderate level and 8.3% were in a non-satisfactory condition with high levels of vulnerability. The results of Fisher's exact test showed that there wasn't a significant correlation between functional vulnerability and hospitals lifespan (p=0.99) and type of specialty (p=0.99). Conclusion: As this study, assesses hospitals' main weaknesses in terms of procedures, strategies, plans, human resources, monitoring and evaluation, it is essential that each of these areas be reviewed by hospital managers separately, in order to take significant actions to eliminate their weaknesses.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5217811/DisastersFunctional Vulnerability
spellingShingle Batol Ahmadi
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani
Narjes Tanha
Amjad Mohamadi Bolban Abad
Heshmatollah Asadi
Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters
Electronic Physician
Disasters
Functional Vulnerability
title Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters
title_full Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters
title_fullStr Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters
title_full_unstemmed Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters
title_short Study of Functional Vulnerability Status of Tehran Hospitals in Dealing With Natural Disasters
title_sort study of functional vulnerability status of tehran hospitals in dealing with natural disasters
topic Disasters
Functional Vulnerability
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5217811/
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AT narjestanha studyoffunctionalvulnerabilitystatusoftehranhospitalsindealingwithnaturaldisasters
AT amjadmohamadibolbanabad studyoffunctionalvulnerabilitystatusoftehranhospitalsindealingwithnaturaldisasters
AT heshmatollahasadi studyoffunctionalvulnerabilitystatusoftehranhospitalsindealingwithnaturaldisasters