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A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Factors and Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 17588

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Goniewicz

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Guest Editor

Department of Security, Polish Air Force University, 08-521 Dęblin, Poland
Interests: crisis management; disaster management; disaster preparedness; disasters; safety; health security; CIMIC
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In a globalized world where crisis incidents are becoming more frequent, more devastating, and have a significant impact on the health and lives of societies, the quality of healthcare services, including disaster preparedness in particular, is crucial for health security. The increased risk of a mass accident or catastrophe necessitates the organization of remedial measures intended to protect against these types of unusual events and to facilitate the preparation required to mitigate their impact. A well-established preparedness program is a prerequisite for the effective response of healthcare systems to emergencies.

Successfully managing disasters and public health crises depends on adequate measures implemented at all levels of the emergency chain of action, from policymakers to the general population. It starts with appropriate risk assessment, prevention, and mitigation and continues to prehospital and hospital care, recovery, and evaluation. All levels of action require well-thought-out emergency management plans and routines based on established command and control, identified safety issues, functional communication, well-documented triage and treatment policies, and available logistics. All these characteristics are capabilities that should be developed and trained, particularly when diverse agencies are involved.

The importance of this Issue is its commitment to all parts of disaster and public health preparedness from a multi-agency perspective.

The main goal of this Issue is to bring together public health perspectives on disaster preparedness and develop the idea of current and future challenges from a wider perspective.

Dr. Krzysztof Goniewicz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

disasters
emergency
public health
readiness
response

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Changes in Trauma Epidemiology during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Insights and Implications for Public Health and Disaster Preparedness

by Mariusz Jojczuk, Jakub Pawlikowski, Piotr Kamiński, Dariusz Głuchowski, Katarzyna Naylor, Jakub Gajewski, Robert Karpiński, Przemysław Krakowski, Józef Jonak, Adam Nogalski and Dariusz Czerwiński

Healthcare 2023, 11(17), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11172436 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1323

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded changes in healthcare systems worldwide. The lockdown brought about difficulties in healthcare access. However, trauma still required further attention considering its modifications. The presented study aims to investigate the variances in epidemiological patterns of trauma during the lockdown and the previous year, with a view to better understand the modifications in healthcare provision. The authors analyzed data from the first lockdown in 2020 (12 March–30 May) and the same period in 2019 from 35 hospitals in Lublin Province. A total of 10,806 patients in 2019 and 5212 patients in 2020 were included in the research. The uncovered changes adhered to the total admissions and mortality rate, the frequency of injuries in particular body regions, and injury mechanisms. The lockdown period resulted in a reduction in trauma, requiring an altered approach to healthcare provision. Our research indicates that the altered approach facilitated during such periods is essential for delivering tailored help to trauma patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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13 pages, 249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Psychological Resilience: Examining the Impact of Managerial Support on Mental Health Outcomes for Saudi Ambulance Personnel

by Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani, Mohannad A. Almusallam, Nawaf A. Albaqami, Mohammed Aljuaid, Abdullah A. Alghamdi, Mohammad A. Alhallaf and Krzysztof Goniewicz

Healthcare 2023, 11(9), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11091277 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

Ambulance personnel are among the groups with high mental health risks. This study aims to investigate the role of managerial support in determining the mental well-being of ambulance personnel, a group at high risk for mental health issues. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2022, involving a convenience sample of 354 ambulance personnel. An online survey was distributed via social media platforms. Manager behavior and mental well-being were assessed using the Manager Behavior Questionnaire (MBQ) and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS). The participants represented nearly equal-sized groups from different agencies, with 50.3% residing in the Riyadh Region and 67.5% aged between 25 and 34. The mean score for manager behavior was 2.92 ± 1.124, while the mental well-being scale’s mean score was 3.398 ± 0.8219. Variance analyses revealed statistically significant differences in manager behavior concerning gender, age, residence, and years of experience (p < 0.05), as well as in the mental well-being of ambulance personnel. Generalized linear regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between manager behavior and mental well-being (p < 0.01). Focusing on improving organizational management behaviors is a promising strategy for enhancing mental health interventions among ambulance personnel. Further research is recommended to monitor the mental health of these professionals and develop evidence-based interventions to support their well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

12 pages, 655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting the Public Intention to Repeat the COVID-19 Vaccination: Implications for Vaccine Communication

by Yubin Lee, Kunhee Park, Jeonghoon Shin, Jeonghyeon Oh, Yeongeun Jang and Myoungsoon You

Healthcare 2023, 11(9), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11091235 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1317

Abstract

Although most of the pandemic-related mandatory restrictions have been lifted or eased, vaccination is still recommended as an effective measure to minimize the damage from COVID-19 infection. Since COVID-19 eradication is unlikely, it is necessary to understand the factors affecting the public’s vaccination intention when COVID-19 vaccination is continuously recommended. This study aims to explore the factors that affect the intention to repeat the COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea. An online survey was conducted in January 2022 with adults living in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. In a hierarchical logistic regression analysis, sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 infection-related factors, COVID-19 vaccination-related factors, sociocultural factors, and communication factors were taken into account. In this study, more than three-quarters (78.1%) of Koreans were willing to repeat the COVID-19 vaccination. People who had high-risk perceptions, had been vaccinated against COVID-19 at least once, had more authoritarian attitudes, regarded the vaccination as a social responsibility, and had positive attitudes toward health authorities’ regular briefings were more likely to repeat the vaccination. In contrast, those who directly or indirectly experienced COVID-19 vaccine side effects and who showed psychological reactance against the government’s vaccination recommendation were less likely to repeat the vaccination. Our research indicates that empathetic communication, promotion of the prosocial aspect of vaccination, and regular and transparent provision of vaccine information are essential for promoting the intention to repeat the COVID-19 vaccination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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12 pages, 580 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reducing Violence in Riyadh’s Emergency Departments: The Critical Role of Healthcare Providers

by Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani, Dennis G. Barten, Halah Al-Balawi, Sahar Al-Aqeel, Noora Al-Dulijan, Khulood Al-Ghamdi, Sarah Al-Shammari, Mohammad A. Alhallaf, Mohammad Aljuaid, Derrick Tin and Krzysztof Goniewicz

Healthcare 2023, 11(6), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060823 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1848

Abstract

Emergency department staff are at high risk of experiencing violence and aggression from patients and visitors, which can have negative impacts on healthcare providers in the ED. The aim of this study was to explore the role of healthcare providers in addressing local violence in Riyadh EDs and investigate their preparedness for managing violent incidents. We used a descriptive, correlational design with survey methodology to collect data from a convenience sample of nurses, ED technicians, physicians, and advanced practice providers in Riyadh city’s EDs. To examine the associations, we used an analysis of variance (ANOVA) for unadjusted relationships and an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for adjusted associations. Measures included a demographic survey, and clinicians responded to an online survey. A total of 206 ED staff participated in the questionnaire, and 59% reported experiencing physical violence during an ED shift, with 61% of incidents being caused by relatives. Additionally, 32% of the participants witnessed workplace violence. Our findings revealed that male healthcare workers, physicians, and those working in the governmental sector were at the highest risk of experiencing violence. We also found a statistically significant association between the rate of patients seen in the ED and the frequency of assault (physical or verbal) in the ED. Our results suggest that the rate of workplace violence in Riyadh EDs is high, and more efforts are needed to protect the health and well-being of healthcare providers. Senior management should take a position against ED domestic violence and reinforce managerial and healthcare provider resources by adopting policies and procedures that protect healthcare workers’ safety. This study provides valuable insights into the nature and prevalence of violence in Riyadh EDs and highlights the critical role of healthcare providers in reducing violence in EDs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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Review

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17 pages, 1030 KiB

Open AccessReview

Death Unpreparedness Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Concept Analysis

by Cristina Costeira, Maria Anjos Dixe, Ana Querido, Ana Rocha, Joel Vitorino, Cátia Santos and Carlos Laranjeira

Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020188 - 12 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1389

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed changes upon the capacity of healthcare systems, with significant repercussions on healthcare provision, particularly at end-of-life. This study aims to analyze the concept map of death unpreparedness due to the COVID-19 pandemic, capturing the relationships among the attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical indicators. Walker and Avant’s method was used to guide an analysis of this concept. A literature search was performed systematically, between May 2022 and August 2023, using the following electronic databases on the Elton Bryson Stephens Company (EBSCO) host platform: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete, Cochrane Library, and Nursing and Allied Health Collection. Thirty-four articles were retrieved. The unexpected and unpredictable impositions associated with inexperience and unskillfulness in dealing with COVID-19 configured challenges for healthcare professionals, family/caregivers, and even the dying person. Nine key attributes emerged in three main domains: (1) Individual: (a) disease-related conditions, (b) separation distress, and (c) scarcity of death and grief literacy; (2) Relational: (a) Dying alone, (b) poor communication, and (c) existential issues; and (3) Contextual: (a) disrupted collective mourning and grieving, (b) disrupted compassionate care and, (c) pandemic social stigma. This study contributed a full definition of death unpreparedness in a global pandemic scenario such as COVID-19. In this sense, feeling unprepared or unready for death brought new challenges to the bioecological resources of those affected. It is essential to embrace strategies capable of providing emotional and spiritual support in the dying process and to respect patient wishes. The lessons learned from COVID-19 should be applied to events with a comparable impact to minimize their consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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Other

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19 pages, 4075 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Global Prevalence and Associated Factors of Burnout among Emergency Department Healthcare Workers and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Ahmed Ramdan M. Alanazy and Abdullah Alruwaili

Healthcare 2023, 11(15), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152220 - 7 Aug 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3756

Abstract

Background/Aim: Emergency medicine (EM) settings are very stressful, given the high workload, intense working environment, and prolonged working time. In turn, the rate of burnout and its three domains have been increasingly reported among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to determine the prevalence and risk factors of burnout among EM HCWs. Methods: Six databases were searched in February 2023, yielding 29 articles (16,619 EM HCWs) reporting burnout or its three domains (emotional exhaustion “EE”, depersonalization “DP”, and personal accomplishment “PA”). The primary outcome was the prevalence of burnout and its domains, while secondary outcomes included the risk factors of high burnout, EE, DP, or low PA. Burnout rates were pooled across studies using STATA software. The prevalence was measured using the pooled effect size (ES), and the random-effects model was used when heterogeneity was encountered; otherwise, the fixed-effects model was used. Results: The prevalence of overall burnout was high (43%), with 35% of EM HCWs having a high risk of burnout. Meanwhile, 39%, 43%, and 36% of EM workers reported having high levels of EE and DP and low levels of PA, respectively. Country-specific changes in the rate of burnout were observed. The rate of high burnout, high EE, high DP, and low PA was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic period. The type of profession (nurses, physicians, residents, etc.) played a significant role in modifying the rate of burnout and its domains. However, gender was not a significant determinant of high burnout or its domains among EM workers. Conclusions: Burnout is a prevalent problem in emergency medicine practice, affecting all workers. As residents progress through their training years, their likelihood of experiencing burnout intensifies. Nurses are most affected by this problem, followed by physicians. Country-associated differences in burnout and its domains are evident. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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9 pages, 536 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Operational Health Pavilions in Mass Disasters: Lessons Learned from the 2023 Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

by Roberto Scendoni, Mariano Cingolani, Vittoradolfo Tambone and Francesco De Micco

Healthcare 2023, 11(14), 2052; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142052 - 17 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1309

Abstract

The massive earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in February 2023 killed tens of thousands of people, and most of the deceased have not yet been identified. Many victims were pulled from the rubble hours or days later, injured and in need of assistance, treatment, and food, and many have not yet been connected with their families. Armed forces, volunteers, technicians, and health workers must cooperate in synergy in these situations to ensure effective interventions and to improve resilience. Based on the lessons learned from the response efforts to this recent natural catastrophe, this brief report proposes, for the first time, an organisational model structured around five functional pavilions that can be safely set up at the edge of a disaster area. Each pavilion should run its own activities to make a vital contribution to the overall coordinated emergency response. Looking to the future, it is extremely important to apply a technical approach that leads to maximum operational synergy at a disaster site and during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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12 pages, 478 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Prehospital Time Interval for Urban and Rural Emergency Medical Services: A Systematic Literature Review

by Abdullah Alruwaili and Ahmed Ramdan M. Alanazy

Healthcare 2022, 10(12), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122391 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2474

Abstract

The aim of this study was to discuss the differences in pre-hospital time intervals between rural and urban communities regarding emergency medical services (EMS). A systematic search was conducted through various relevant databases, together with a manual search to find relevant articles that compared rural and urban communities in terms of response time, on-scene time, and transport time. A total of 37 articles were ultimately included in this review. The sample sizes of the included studies was also remarkably variable, ranging between 137 and 239,464,121. Twenty-nine (78.4%) reported a difference in response time between rural and urban areas. Among these studies, the reported response times for patients were remarkably variable. However, most of them (number (n) = 27, 93.1%) indicate that response times are significantly longer in rural areas than in urban areas. Regarding transport time, 14 studies (37.8%) compared this outcome between rural and urban populations. All of these studies indicate the superiority of EMS in urban over rural communities. In another context, 10 studies (27%) reported on-scene time. Most of these studies (n = 8, 80%) reported that the mean on-scene time for their populations is significantly longer in rural areas than in urban areas. On the other hand, two studies (5.4%) reported that on-scene time is similar in urban and rural communities. Finally, only eight studies (21.6%) reported pre-hospital times for rural and urban populations. All studies reported a significantly shorter pre-hospital time in urban communities compared to rural communities. Conclusions: Even with the recently added data, short pre-hospital time intervals are still superior in urban over rural communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Challenges in Public Health and Disaster Preparedness)

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