Heejun Shin, Se Kwang Oh, Han You Lee, Heajin Chung, Ji Eun Moon, Hee Do Kang
{"title":"Optimizing Triage in Chemical Disasters: Validation of Modified IGSA Criteria for Hydrofluoric Acid Exposure.","authors":"Heejun Shin, Se Kwang Oh, Han You Lee, Heajin Chung, Ji Eun Moon, Hee Do Kang","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.320","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.320","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to develop and validate the modified irritant gas syndrome agent (IGSA) criteria, utilizing readily available triage information and epidemiologic data to efficiently segregate patients based on the severity of hydrofluoric acid (HFA) exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis of 160 patients exposed to HFA was performed to develop the criteria and assess the criteria's efficacy, focusing on age, respiratory rate, and compliance with IGSA standards. The criteria's validity was assessed by comparing clinical outcomes between patients meeting the modified IGSA (mIGSA) criteria and those who did not as external and internal.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mIGSA criteria (or AIR criteria) consisting of the 3 clusters of age greater than 49, IGSA criteria satisfied, and respiratory rate greater than 19 was developed. The area under curve of receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction of the risk of confirmed HFA injury according to AIR criteria was 0.8415 at the external validation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The mIGSA criteria offer a significant improvement in the triage of HFA exposure incidents, facilitating rapid identification and prioritization of patients with potentially severe outcomes. Future research should aim to further validate these criteria across diverse emergency scenarios, reinforcing their utility in global health emergency preparedness.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e323"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142924134","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}
Metin Dincer, Mesut Akyol, Yunus Emre Karatas, Mustafa Kocakaya
{"title":"The Assessment of Post-Earthquake Quality of Life of Earthquake Survivors.","authors":"Metin Dincer, Mesut Akyol, Yunus Emre Karatas, Mustafa Kocakaya","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.309","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) of earthquake survivors who experienced 2 major earthquakes in Türkiye on February 6, 2023, with different measurement tools.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted in 2 centers with a total of 467 participants. For QoL measurement, face-to-face Euroqol EQ-5D-5L, Euroqol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS), and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) measurement tools were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On the EQ-5D-5L scale, most of the participants stated that they struggled the most with the anxiety/Depression dimension. In NHP, the highest mean score is in the Emotional Reaction section. Females and the 55+ age group were found to have worse QoL. A linear and moderate correlation was found between the EQ-5D-5L index value and the EQ-VAS score; an inverse, weak, or moderate correlation was found between the EQ-VAS score and the sections of the NHP scores; an inverse and strong correlation was found between the Nottingham Health Profile Distress (NHP-D) score and the EQ-5D-5L index value.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings obtained with the measurement tools used in this study reveal various dimensions affecting the QoL of different cohorts. In addition, the study provides important evidence for policies to be developed to increase post-earthquake QoL.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142924135","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}
Lindsy M J Engels, Dennis G Barten, Thimo J T Boumans, Menno I Gaakeer, Gideon H P Latten, Jannet Mehagnoul, Özlem Tapirdamaz, Frits van Osch, Luc Mortelmans
{"title":"Fight or Flight: Emergency Health Care Workers' Willingness to Work during Crises and Disasters. A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in the Netherlands.","authors":"Lindsy M J Engels, Dennis G Barten, Thimo J T Boumans, Menno I Gaakeer, Gideon H P Latten, Jannet Mehagnoul, Özlem Tapirdamaz, Frits van Osch, Luc Mortelmans","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.333","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.333","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Expanding staff levels is a strategy for hospitals to increase their surge capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether emergency health care workers (HCWs) are willing to work during crises or disasters, and which working conditions influence their decisions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>HCWs in the emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs) of 5 Dutch hospitals were surveyed about various disaster scenarios. For each scenario, HCWs were asked about their willingness to work (WTW) and which conditions would influence their decision. Knowledge, perceived risk, and danger were assessed per scenario.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 306 out of 630 HCWs completed the survey. Influenza epidemics, SARS-CoV-2 pandemics, and natural disasters were associated with the highest WTW rates (69.0%, 63.7%, and 53.3%, respectively). WTW rate was lowest in nuclear incident (4.6%) and dirty bomb (3.3%) scenarios. WTW rate was higher in physicians than in nurses. Male ED HCWs, single HCWs, and childless HCWs were more often willing to work. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and the safety of HCWs' families were the most important working conditions. Perceived knowledge scored lowest in the dirty bomb, biological, and nuclear incident scenarios. These scenarios were rated highest with respect to perceived danger.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>WTW depends on disaster type, profession, and department. The provision of PPE and the safety of HCWs' families were found to be the predominant favorable working conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142924123","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}
Joanne E Porter, Daria Soldatenko, Megan Simic, Elizabeth M Miller, Luis Antonio T Hualda
{"title":"Nature-Based Community Recovery Post-Natural Disaster: Black Summer Bushfires.","authors":"Joanne E Porter, Daria Soldatenko, Megan Simic, Elizabeth M Miller, Luis Antonio T Hualda","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Natural disasters can cause widespread death and extensive physical devastation, but also harmfully impact individual and community health following a disaster event. Nature-based recovery approach can positively influence the mental health of people and community's post-natural disasters. In response to the Australian bushfire season of 2019-2020, Zoos Victoria, in partnership with the Arthur Rylah Institute, worked with local communities in East Gippsland to support people's recovery through experiencing, supporting, and witnessing nature's recovery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This mixed-method study explored how nature improved the recovery of remote and rural communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires in East Gippsland. The research studied the individuals' feelings about being involved in nature-based community events and their lived experiences. Data were collected from June to September 2023 through a nature-based community recovery project survey and community interviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings demonstrated that engagement with natural environments promotes positive psychological, mental, and general well-being of people from bushfire-affected communities. Positive feedback from participants indicated the success of the Nature-Based Community Recovery Project in East Gippsland after the Black Summer bushfire.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research provides insights for future recovery projects and ensures that sustainable nature-based recovery solutions for bushfire-impacted communities can be established.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142924133","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}
Vanessa E Miller, Kate Vinita Fitch, Monica E Swilley-Martinez, Erum Agha, Ishrat Z Alam, Andrew L Kavee, Toska Cooper, Bradley N Gaynes, Timothy S Carey, David B Goldston, Shabbar I Ranapurwala, Brian W Pence
{"title":"Impact of Hurricanes and Floodings on Mental Health Outcomes Within the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Vanessa E Miller, Kate Vinita Fitch, Monica E Swilley-Martinez, Erum Agha, Ishrat Z Alam, Andrew L Kavee, Toska Cooper, Bradley N Gaynes, Timothy S Carey, David B Goldston, Shabbar I Ranapurwala, Brian W Pence","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.327","DOIUrl":"10.1017/dmp.2024.327","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Given the US population concentration near coastal areas and increased flooding due to climate change, public health professionals must recognize the psychological burden resulting from exposure to natural hazards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a systematic search of databases to identify articles with a clearly defined comparison group consisting of either pre-exposure measurements in a disaster-exposed population or disaster-unexposed controls, and assessment of mental health, including but not limited to, depression, post-traumatic stress (PTS), and anxiety.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-five studies, with a combined total of <i>n =</i>616 657 people were included in a systematic review, and 11 studies with a total of 2012 people were included in a meta-analysis of 3 mental health outcomes. Meta-analytic findings included a positive association between disaster exposure and PTS (<i>n =</i> 5, g = 0.44, 95% CI 0.04, 0.85), as well as depression (<i>n =</i> 9, g = 0.28, 95% CI 0.04, 0.53), and no meaningful effect size in studies assessing anxiety (<i>n =</i> 6, g = 0.05 95% CI -0.30, 0.19).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Hurricanes and flooding were consistently associated with increased depression and PTS in studies with comparison groups representing individuals unaffected by hazards.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e335"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142924128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Physician's Perception About the Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine: Correspondence.","authors":"Pathum Sookaromdee, Viroj Wiwanitkit","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.297","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"19 ","pages":"e3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142915781","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}
Chinonso B Agubosim, Attila J Hertelendy, Taha M Masri, Ritu R Sarin, Christina A Woodward, Fadi S Issa, Eman Alshaikh, Eric Miller, Dana Matthews, Chukwudi G Agubosim, Amalia Voskanyan, Gregory R Ciottone
{"title":"Assessing the Current State of USA-Based Disaster Medicine Fellowships.","authors":"Chinonso B Agubosim, Attila J Hertelendy, Taha M Masri, Ritu R Sarin, Christina A Woodward, Fadi S Issa, Eman Alshaikh, Eric Miller, Dana Matthews, Chukwudi G Agubosim, Amalia Voskanyan, Gregory R Ciottone","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to understand the current landscape of USA-based disaster medicine (DM) programs through the lens of alumni and program directors (PDs). The data obtained from this study will provide valuable information to future learners as they ponder careers in disaster medicine and allow PDs to refine curricular offerings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two separate surveys were sent to USA-based DM program directors and alumni. The surveys gathered information regarding current training characteristics, career trajectories, and the outlook of DM training.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study had a 57% response rate among PDs, and 42% response rate from alumni. Most programs are 1-year and accept 1-2 fellows per class. More than 60% of the programs offer additional advanced degrees. Half of the respondents accept international medical graduates (IMGs). Only 25% accept non-MD/DO/MBBs trained applicants. Most of the alumni hold academic and governmental positions post-training. Furthermore, many alumni report that fellowship training offered an advantage in the job market and allowed them to expand their clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The field of disaster medicine is continuously evolving owing to the increased recognition of the important roles DM specialists play in healthcare. The fellowship training programs are experiencing a similar evolution with an increasing trend toward standardization. Furthermore, graduates from these programs see their training as a worthwhile investment in career opportunities.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e325"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916355","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}
Gülnihal Aslan, Hande Olgun, Yavuz Yavuz, Bayram Yılmaz, Mustafa Özilgen
{"title":"Thermodynamic Assessment of the Causes of the Death of the People Under the Debris in an Earthquake.","authors":"Gülnihal Aslan, Hande Olgun, Yavuz Yavuz, Bayram Yılmaz, Mustafa Özilgen","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.335","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.335","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mortality rate of the crush victims in the Marmara earthquake of August 1999 was compared with the conclusions arrived after making thermodynamic assessment of the data acquired in the previous earthquakes. Entropic age concept was found very helpful while assessing the data. Mortality rate in the age group of 0-9 years old crush victims was 0 because the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of these children was low. The earthquake happened at 3:03 a.m. in the morning and it was probably at the coldest time of the day; therefore, the victims were losing sufficient heat to avoid hyperpraxia, where body temperature reaches to 40°C or above. As the population and the age of the victims increase more people died and the survival rate decreased. The highest mortality rate was in the 60+ age group. According to the entropic age concept, these group of victims had already accumulated a lot of entropy (e.g., heath problems) in their bodies in previous stages of their lives; therefore, they were more prone to death.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"19 ","pages":"e1"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916047","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}
Joshua L DeVincenzo, Tina Ahmadi, Lea Buena, Daisy Zapata, Sori Han, Christopher Tingley, Himanshu Panwar, Linfan Gan
{"title":"Creating Time and Space for the Intersection of Climatological Disasters and Racial Inequalities Curricula in the Classroom.","authors":"Joshua L DeVincenzo, Tina Ahmadi, Lea Buena, Daisy Zapata, Sori Han, Christopher Tingley, Himanshu Panwar, Linfan Gan","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Racial disparities and climatological disasters are complex topics rarely addressed in K-12 curricula. Each topic has long been neglected vis-à-vis a pedagogy that has either lagged behind contemporary issues or has intentionally sidestepped the importance of addressing these themes through legal and policy mechanisms that limit educators' ability to discuss each topic. When it comes to students and communities of color in the U.S. who are unequally vulnerable to and affected by the impacts of climate change, it is a significant disservice not to provide fundamental learning opportunities that allow students to engage and contribute to the discourse surrounding these pressing issues. This project was intended to support educators and administrators in implementing pedagogy around these topics conducive to curriculum standards and explicitly developed content for students in grades 8-12. The research question was, \"How can the racial inequalities of disaster vulnerability and recovery be addressed in the classroom effectively to build a comprehensive knowledge base, to educate and empower a generation of students who will experience considerably more climatological disasters in the future?\"</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"18 ","pages":"e326"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916329","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":"The Level of Trauma and Hopelessness of Survivor Nursing Students of the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes: The Case of Türkiye.","authors":"Sema Aytaç, Özlem Ovayolu, Sibel Serçe","doi":"10.1017/dmp.2024.345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2024.345","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the post-earthquake trauma and hopelessness levels of nursing students due to the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted between April and May 2023 in the Nursing Department in a province located in Southeastern Türkiye using the face-to-face interview technique. The study was completed with 276 students in line with the power analysis. The data were collected using a questionnaire, the Scale that Determines the Level of Post-Earthquake Trauma (SDLPET), and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean SDLPET and BHS scores of the students were 55.45±13.58 and 9.38±4.53, respectively. Some 12.3% of the nursing students lost their friends due to the earthquake, 80.4% did not receive any earthquake training, 46% needed psychological support, 48.6% needed financial support, 49.6% needed social support, 37% had sleep problems, 72.8% experienced hopelessness, and the quality of life of 67.8% of the students was negatively affected due to the hopelessness they experienced.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It was found that the level of post-earthquake trauma and hopelessness of the students was moderate, and a positive and significant correlation was found between trauma and hopelessness scores.</p>","PeriodicalId":54390,"journal":{"name":"Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness","volume":"19 ","pages":"e4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142915700","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}