Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Earthquakes are renowned as being amongst the most dangerous and destructive types of natural disasters. Iran, a developing country in Asia, is prone to earthquakes and is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-05-01
|
| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://www.sjtrem.com/content/19/1/30 |
| _version_ | 1811287914295853056 |
|---|---|
| author | Castrén Maaret Öhlén Gunnar Khankeh Hamidreza Djalali Ahmadreza Kurland Lisa |
| author_facet | Castrén Maaret Öhlén Gunnar Khankeh Hamidreza Djalali Ahmadreza Kurland Lisa |
| author_sort | Castrén Maaret |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Earthquakes are renowned as being amongst the most dangerous and destructive types of natural disasters. Iran, a developing country in Asia, is prone to earthquakes and is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in this respect. The medical response in disasters is accompanied by managerial, logistic, technical, and medical challenges being also the case in the Bam earthquake in Iran. Our objective was to explore the medical response to the Bam earthquake with specific emphasis on pre-hospital medical management during the first days.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was performed in 2008; an interview based qualitative study using content analysis. We conducted nineteen interviews with experts and managers responsible for responding to the Bam earthquake, including pre-hospital emergency medical services, the Red Crescent, and Universities of Medical Sciences. The selection of participants was determined by using a purposeful sampling method. Sample size was given by data saturation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The pre-hospital medical service was divided into three categories; triage, emergency medical care and transportation, each category in turn was identified into facilitators and obstacles. The obstacles identified were absence of a structured disaster plan, absence of standardized medical teams, and shortage of resources. The army and skilled medical volunteers were identified as facilitators.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The most compelling, and at the same time amenable obstacle, was the lack of a disaster management plan. It was evident that implementing a comprehensive plan would not only save lives but decrease suffering and enable an effective praxis of the available resources at pre-hospital and hospital levels.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:27:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3f1c4695dcc4449b675aa68108091cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-7241 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:27:51Z |
| publishDate | 2011-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3f1c4695dcc4449b675aa68108091cc2022-12-22T03:04:37ZengBMCScandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine1757-72412011-05-011913010.1186/1757-7241-19-30Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative studyCastrén MaaretÖhlén GunnarKhankeh HamidrezaDjalali AhmadrezaKurland Lisa<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Earthquakes are renowned as being amongst the most dangerous and destructive types of natural disasters. Iran, a developing country in Asia, is prone to earthquakes and is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in this respect. The medical response in disasters is accompanied by managerial, logistic, technical, and medical challenges being also the case in the Bam earthquake in Iran. Our objective was to explore the medical response to the Bam earthquake with specific emphasis on pre-hospital medical management during the first days.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was performed in 2008; an interview based qualitative study using content analysis. We conducted nineteen interviews with experts and managers responsible for responding to the Bam earthquake, including pre-hospital emergency medical services, the Red Crescent, and Universities of Medical Sciences. The selection of participants was determined by using a purposeful sampling method. Sample size was given by data saturation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The pre-hospital medical service was divided into three categories; triage, emergency medical care and transportation, each category in turn was identified into facilitators and obstacles. The obstacles identified were absence of a structured disaster plan, absence of standardized medical teams, and shortage of resources. The army and skilled medical volunteers were identified as facilitators.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The most compelling, and at the same time amenable obstacle, was the lack of a disaster management plan. It was evident that implementing a comprehensive plan would not only save lives but decrease suffering and enable an effective praxis of the available resources at pre-hospital and hospital levels.</p>http://www.sjtrem.com/content/19/1/30 |
| spellingShingle | Castrén Maaret Öhlén Gunnar Khankeh Hamidreza Djalali Ahmadreza Kurland Lisa Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine |
| title | Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | facilitators and obstacles in pre hospital medical response to earthquakes a qualitative study |
| url | http://www.sjtrem.com/content/19/1/30 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT castrenmaaret facilitatorsandobstaclesinprehospitalmedicalresponsetoearthquakesaqualitativestudy AT ohlengunnar facilitatorsandobstaclesinprehospitalmedicalresponsetoearthquakesaqualitativestudy AT khankehhamidreza facilitatorsandobstaclesinprehospitalmedicalresponsetoearthquakesaqualitativestudy AT djalaliahmadreza facilitatorsandobstaclesinprehospitalmedicalresponsetoearthquakesaqualitativestudy AT kurlandlisa facilitatorsandobstaclesinprehospitalmedicalresponsetoearthquakesaqualitativestudy |