{"title":"Development of the Nurse Competency Assessment Scale in Disaster Management and Psychometric Testing.","authors":"Ayşe Yildiz Keskin, Handan Alan","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.178","DOIUrl":"10.1017/dmp.2024.178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to develop the Nurse Competency Assessment Scale in Disaster Management (NCASDM) and to conduct psychometric evaluation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>It is a scale development study. Research data were collected between January and May 2023. In the sample of the study, as stated in the literature, it was aimed to reach at least 10 times the number of draft scale items (<i>n</i> = 600). The psychometric properties of the scale were tested with 697 nurses working in four different hospitals. A three-stage structure was used in the analysis of data: (1) creating the item pool, (2) preliminary evaluation of items, (3) refining of the scale and evaluation of psychometric properties. The content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and temporal stability of the scale were evaluated according to the scale development guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The scale items were obtained from online, semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews conducted with nurses who experienced disasters or worked in disasters. The content validity index of the scale was found to be 0.95. According to the exploratory factor analysis, it was found that the scale consisted of 43 items and two subscales, and the subscales explained 79.094% of the total variance. The compliance indices obtained as a result of confirmatory factor analysis were acceptable and at good levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The NCASDM was found to be a psychometrically valid and reliable measurement tool. It can be used to evaluate the competency of nurses related to disaster management.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e273"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142669748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing the Public Health Implications of Aviation Terrorism: A Retrospective Analysis of Global Trends and Response Strategies.","authors":"Zakaria Mani, Krzysztof Goniewicz","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Terrorist attacks on the aviation sector represent a significant security challenge due to the high-profile status of airports and aircraft. These attacks not only jeopardize global security but also have severe public health repercussions, leading to widespread casualties and psychological distress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study conducted a comprehensive retrospective analysis using data from the Global Terrorism Database to explore the patterns, frequencies, and impacts of terrorist attacks on the aviation sector worldwide. The analysis spanned incidents from 1970 to 2020, focusing on attack types, affected regions, and the direct and indirect health consequences arising from these incidents.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over the 50-year period, the study identified 1183 terrorist attacks targeting the aviation sector. Bombings and explosions emerged as the most common and deadliest forms of attack, responsible for the majority of fatalities and injuries. The data also highlighted significant regional disparities, with certain areas experiencing higher frequencies of attacks and more severe outcomes. Notably, North America bore a disproportionately high number of fatalities, primarily due to the events of September 11, 2001.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings emphasize the ongoing and evolving threat of terrorism in the aviation industry, underscoring the critical need for a proactive and comprehensive approach to security and public health preparedness. Future strategies should prioritize the integration of advanced technological solutions, enhanced international cooperation, and thorough public health planning to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks on aviation effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sailing Through Choppy Waters: Management of Medical Oxygen Emergencies During the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in India.","authors":"Vijaydeep Siddharth, Amitesh Khare, Randeep Guleria","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of patients experienced breathlessness, which progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome, leading to the need for supplemental oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. With each passing day, the need for medical oxygen increased and simultaneously medical oxygen reserves in the country were getting depleted. Government agencies deployed multipronged strategies to ensure that the hospitals had an adequate supply of medical oxygen. Mechanisms and formulae were devised for the rational allocation of medical oxygen to various regions in the country; the production of medical oxygen was boosted along with the curtailment of oxygen usage in industries; and efficient supply chain management, which included \"Oxygen Express\"- special trains for transporting oxygen, aircrafts for transporting medical oxygen, creating green corridors and real-time monitoring of oxygen levels using information technology. The usage and promotion of indigenous PSA oxygen technology augmented the medical oxygen generation capacity at the health care facility level. This emergency situation demonstrated a need for strengthening established intersectoral coordination mechanisms for swift and effective responses to similar situations in future. Various strategies adopted by the Central Government and other government agencies to a large extent helped in addressing the medical oxygen emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abeer Santarisi, Attila J Hertelendy, Fadi Issa, Jeffrey Franc, Christina Woodward, Dana Mathew, Jacob Noel, Timothy J Curtis, Eric D Miller, Chinonso Agubosim, Van Kenyon, Ryan Boasi, Eman AlShaikh, Amalia Voskanyan, Gregory R Ciottone
{"title":"Analysis of Disparities in the Initial Health Care Response to the February 2023 Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.","authors":"Abeer Santarisi, Attila J Hertelendy, Fadi Issa, Jeffrey Franc, Christina Woodward, Dana Mathew, Jacob Noel, Timothy J Curtis, Eric D Miller, Chinonso Agubosim, Van Kenyon, Ryan Boasi, Eman AlShaikh, Amalia Voskanyan, Gregory R Ciottone","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.290","DOIUrl":"10.1017/dmp.2024.290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study analyzes disparities in initial health care responses in Turkey and Syria following the 2023 earthquakes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using Humanitarian Data Exchange, Crude Mortality Rates (CMR) and injury rates in both countries were calculated, and temporal trends of death tolls and injuries in the first month post- catastrophe were compared. World Health Organization (WHO) Flash Appeal estimated funding requirements, and ratios of humanitarian aid personnel in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams per population from ReliefWeb and MAPACTION data were used to gauge disparities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>56 051 096 individuals were exposed, with Turkey having 44 million vs 12 million in Syria. Turkey had higher CMR in affected areas (10.5 vs. 5.0 per 10,000), while Syria had higher CMR in intensely seismic regions (9.3 vs. 7.7 per 1,000). Turkey had higher injury rates (24.6 vs. 9.9 per 10 000). Death and injury rates plateaued in Syria after 3 days, but steadily rose in Turkey. Syria allocated more funding for all priorities per population except health care facilities' rehabilitation. Turkey had 219 USAR teams compared to Syria's 6, with significantly more humanitarian aid personnel (23 vs. 2/100,000).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Significant disparities in the initial health care response were observed between Turkey and Syria, highlighting the need for policymakers to enhance response capabilities in conflict-affected events to reduce the impact on affected populations.</p><p><strong>Narrative abstract: </strong>The 2023 Turkish-Syrian earthquakes, the most devastating in the region since 1939, heightened challenges in Syria's health care system amid ongoing conflict, disrupting Gaziantep's humanitarian aid supply route. The initial health care responses post-earthquakes in Turkey and Syria were analyzed through a descriptive study, where Crude Mortality Rates (CMR) and injury rates during the first week were calculated. The World Health Organization's funding priorities and the ratio of humanitarian aid personnel in Urban Search and Rescue teams per population were assessed. Turkey had 4-fold higher earthquake exposure and experienced higher CMR and injuries per population, while Syria had higher CMR in intensely seismic regions. Temporal trends showed plateaued death and injury rates in Syria within 3 days, while Turkey's continued to increase. Syria required more funding across nearly all priorities while Turkey had more humanitarian aid personnel per population. Significant health care response disparities were observed, emphasizing the imperative for policymakers to enhance initial responses in conflict-affected events.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Crompton, Peter Kohleis, Jane Shakespeare-Finch, Gerard FitzGerald, Ross Young
{"title":"Predicting Participation in a Post-disaster Mental Health Program.","authors":"David Crompton, Peter Kohleis, Jane Shakespeare-Finch, Gerard FitzGerald, Ross Young","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>A retrospective naturalistic evaluation was undertaken to identify if pre- and post-disaster factors may predict the likelihood of those considered \"at risk\" of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) entering a post-disaster clinical treatment program.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The intake data of 881 people referred to the program following the Queensland (Australia) natural disasters of 2010-11 was evaluated. Those referred scored >2 on the Primary Care PTSD scale. Assessment included the disaster exposure experience, demographic and clinical information, and measures of coping and resilience. Descriptive analyses and a Classification Tree Analysis (CTA) were undertaken to ascertain which factors may predict treatment participation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The treatment group (TG) in comparison to the non-treatment group (NTG) were more likely to perceive their life was threatened (85.1% vs 8.1%), less able to cope (67% vs 25.8%) and less resilient (4.2% vs 87.5%). The CTA using all the assessment variables found the Connor-Davidson (2-item scale) (<i>P <</i> 0.001), degree of property damage (<i>P <</i> 0.001), financial losses (<i>P</i> < 0.001), perception their life was threatened (<i>P <</i> 0.001) and insurance claims (<i>P <</i> 0.003) distinguished the TG from the NTG.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study identified factors that distinguished the TG from the NTG and predicted the likelihood of participation in a post-disaster mental health treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nunzio Zotti, Stefano Guicciardi, Francesca Di Serafino, Dorian Bardhi, Annalisa Iagnemma, Riccardo Mimmo, Andrea Sanna, Giuseppa Granvillano, Francesco Rosiello, Beatrice Volpi, Salvatore Zichichi, Caterina Rizzo, Silvio Tafuri
{"title":"Ready or Not? The Emergency Preparedness State-of-art Among Italian Public Health Medical Residents.","authors":"Nunzio Zotti, Stefano Guicciardi, Francesca Di Serafino, Dorian Bardhi, Annalisa Iagnemma, Riccardo Mimmo, Andrea Sanna, Giuseppa Granvillano, Francesco Rosiello, Beatrice Volpi, Salvatore Zichichi, Caterina Rizzo, Silvio Tafuri","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Italy often experiences major events, such as earthquakes, floods, and migrant shipwrecks. Current and future global challenges for health workers are made up by climate change, pandemics, and wars. In this work, we will assess the state-of-art of training and interest towards these challenges among Italian post-degree public health schools.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy in June 2023 among Italian public health residents. The study investigated training levels and updates regarding emergencies in Italian residencies. It also analyzed interest and importance of topic, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sources of information.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 289 respondents, 86.2% deemed the topic important and 74.4% expressed interest. 90.1% pointed out the lack of dedicated courses and 93.1% of specialized master's programs. Perceived importance in the topic was associated with the desire to attend dedicated conferences. As for COVID-19, 24.6% recognized the importance of this topic pre-pandemic, while 50.9% raised awareness during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This survey shows the need for the offer of emergency training programs in Italian public health schools. Professionals in public health can make a great contribution to emergencies, not only in preparedness, but also in response and recovery phases.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e274"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kenneth Fosu Oteng, Lauren J Wallace, Medard Kofi Adu, Kwabena Fosu Lartey, Joshua Arthur, Samuel Dwomoh, Ruth Owusu-Antwi, Diana Nunana Tsali, Rita Larsen-Reindorf, Vincent I O Agyapong
{"title":"Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Anxiety Disorder in Ghana During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Online Survey.","authors":"Kenneth Fosu Oteng, Lauren J Wallace, Medard Kofi Adu, Kwabena Fosu Lartey, Joshua Arthur, Samuel Dwomoh, Ruth Owusu-Antwi, Diana Nunana Tsali, Rita Larsen-Reindorf, Vincent I O Agyapong","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.105","DOIUrl":"10.1017/dmp.2024.105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic created stressors to daily living, leading to increased mental health problems. It is important to assess the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, specifically anxiety.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The goal was to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic, clinical, and other correlates of likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) among study subjects in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This study employed a cross-sectional approach, using an online survey administered primarily through social media platforms. The survey questions included the GAD-7 scale, which was used to assess likely GAD in respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Overall, 756 respondents completed the survey, mainly from Ashanti and Greater Accra, which were the hardest hit by COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of likely GAD in our sample was 7.6%. Gender, loss of job due to COVID-19, and seeking mental health counseling were independently associated with increased likelihood of GAD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings suggest that women, those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those who sought mental health counseling were more likely to experience moderate to high anxiety symptoms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority must be attached to psychological support measures for members of these groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e269"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142640455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zeynep Sofuoglu, Merdiye Ozturk, Metin Er, Gul Arslan, Ömer Faruk Sönmez, Mehmet Yekta Oncel
{"title":"Navigating Concurrent Disasters: Lessons learned from a Hospital Evacuation Amidst a Pandemic and an Earthquake.","authors":"Zeynep Sofuoglu, Merdiye Ozturk, Metin Er, Gul Arslan, Ömer Faruk Sönmez, Mehmet Yekta Oncel","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The concurrent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant earthquake in Izmir on October 30, 2020, presented a unique scenario for disaster management and response. This study focuses on the impact of the earthquake, which resulted in 117 fatalities, including 1 due to drowning, and injured 1034 individuals, alongside widespread structural damage including to the Izmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital. The objective is to assess the activation and implementation of the hospital disaster plan amidst the ongoing pandemic. Through a retrospective evaluation of all actions undertaken as per the Hospital Disaster Emergency Plan within the Disaster Management cycle, this study examines the decision-making process for the hospital evacuation on October 30, 2020, the evacuation of COVID-19 patients, and the strategies employed to increase hospital capacity. Of 216 patients hospitalized at the time of the earthquake, 65 were transferred to other facilities under COVID-19 protocols. The prolonged nature of pandemics and the likelihood of secondary disasters underscore the importance of comprehensive risk assessments and dynamic disaster planning, considering simultaneous multiple hazards. This study suggests the inclusion of multi hazard scenarios and diverse evacuation methods by using types of ambulances, such as ground, helicopter, and boat.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e268"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142631930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Who Plays an Important Role for Information Networks of COVID-19 in Latin America?","authors":"Seungil Yum","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.285","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study highlights key players for COVID-19 in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador by employing social network analysis for Twitter. This study finds that key players in Latin America play various roles in COVID-19 social networks, differing from country to country. For example, Brazil has no Latin key players, whereas Colombia and Ecuador have 8 Latin key players in the top 10 key players. Secondly, the role of governmental key players also varies across different countries. For instance, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador have the governmental key player as the top key player, whereas Brazil and Colombia have the news media key player as the first. Thirdly, each country shows different social networks according to groups. For instance, Colombia exhibits the most open social networks among groups, whereas Brazil shows the most closed social networks among the 6 Latin countries. Fourthly, several top tweeters are common across the 6 Latin American countries. For example, Peru and Colombia have caraotadigital (Venezuelan news media), and Chile and Argentina have extravzla (Venezuelan news media) as the top tweeter.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e266"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142632036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alba Ripoll-Gallardo, Elisa Scarpolini, Giacomo Colzani, Roberto Biella, Ilaria Offredi, Roberto Di Silvestre, Claudia Giannotti, Giuseppe Maria Sechi, Roberto Fumagalli, Rita E Fioravanzo, Riccardo Stucchi
{"title":"Management Of Psychiatric Emergencies and Associated Comfort Among EMS Physicians in Lombardy, Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Alba Ripoll-Gallardo, Elisa Scarpolini, Giacomo Colzani, Roberto Biella, Ilaria Offredi, Roberto Di Silvestre, Claudia Giannotti, Giuseppe Maria Sechi, Roberto Fumagalli, Rita E Fioravanzo, Riccardo Stucchi","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aims of this study were to explore the knowledge of EMS physicians (EMSPs) on the legal aspects related to the management of prehospital psychiatric emergencies, assess their degree of comfort, and measure their perceived communication skills.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey was distributed to the 376 EMSPs working in the prehospital setting in Lombardy, Italy. Knowledge of medico-legal aspects was measured through multiple-choice questions; the Comfort Score (CS) and perceived Communication Skills Score (CSS) were calculated using Likert Scale questions. CS ranged from 11 points (lowest) to 44 (highest); CSS ranged from 8 points (lowest) to 32 (highest).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 272 EMSPs answered the survey (RR= 72.3%); 45.2% were women. Mean age was 45.76 years (SD 8.8). Mean percentage of correct knowledge test answers was 52.4 (SD 12.3); 81.3% believed to have little knowledge of the Italian legislation regarding this topic. Mean CS was 29.3 (SD 5.5); mean CSS was 19.1 (SD 3.9). A higher percentage of correct answers in the knowledge test was associated with lower CS <i>(P =</i> 0.019). Higher self-appraised knowledge of the Italian legislation was associated with higher CS <i>(P < 0.</i>001) and higher CSS <i>(P <</i> 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings should prompt policy makers to ensure proper training and support for EMSPs in the matter of prehospital psychiatric emergency management.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e267"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142631626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}