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Fourth Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM)
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Fourth Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM)

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 7752

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Emily Ying Yang Chan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Assistant Dean, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: health emergency and disaster risk management; climate change and health; humanitarian medicine; disaster public health; complex interventions; case studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Holly Ching Yu Lam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: environmental epidemiology; public health; climate change and health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Disasters and extreme events such as earthquakes, nuclear/chemical accidents, and disease outbreaks disrupt lives, affect well-being, and incur tremendous health and public health burdens on societies. Health emergency and disaster risk management (Health-EDRM) [1] refers to the systematic analysis and management of health risks surrounding emergencies and disasters. The framework argues that prevention plays an important role in reducing hazards and vulnerability, along with extending preparedness, response, and recovery measures. This concept also encompasses methodology development, risk analyses, and intervention identification.

To promote Health-EDRM research and provide a platform for sharing the latest knowledge in the field, a Special Issue of IJERPH: “Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management” was set up in 2018, and has published 53 papers in the past three editions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth enormous direct and indirect health impacts globally. The large-scale rollout of vaccination programs in 2021 was a big step forward, but more questions are to be answered.

In 2021, extreme climate events leading to secondary disasters have created a series of unprecedented disasters around the world. For example, heatwaves accompanied by wildfires have caused extensive damage to villages in Canada and Southern Europe. The increasing frequency of extreme climate events is likely to create extra challenges in tackling the subsequent primary and secondary disasters.

In response to the research needs, a fourth edition of the Special Issue for Health-EDRM is now calling for submissions. The fourth edition invites potential authors to submit papers that aim to examine at all levels the health impacts of any type of disaster, and extreme events of human relevance. Papers that conceptualize the health impacts of simultaneous extreme events (such as Natech), and research investigations that illustrate the applications of study methodologies that capture the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of health risks [2] would be particularly welcome. Studies targeting COVID-19 and health risk management against secondary disasters are also highly encouraged. Please indicate the relevance of the submitted work to the theme of this edition (Health-ERDM) in the submission.

1. Chan, E.Y.Y.; Murray, V. What are the health research needs for the Sendai Framework? The Lancet 2017, 390, e35–e36. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31670-7.

2.  WHO Guidance on Research Methods for Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management 2021. Available online: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/345591/9789240032286-eng.pdf (accessed on 13 December 2021).

Prof. Dr. Emily Ying Yang Chan
Dr. Holly Ching Yu Lam
Guest Editors

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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2500 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

  • health emergency disaster risk management
  • disasters
  • emergencies
  • preparedness
  • response
  • resilience
  • risk assessment
  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • secondary disaster
  • Health-EDRM

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (3 papers)

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15 pages, 502 KiB  
Article
Respiratory and Otolaryngology Symptoms Following the 2019 Spring Floods in Quebec
by Elsa Landaverde, Mélissa Généreux, Danielle Maltais and Philippe Gachon
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11738; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811738 - 17 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1193
Abstract
Background: Although floods may have important respiratory health impacts, few studies have examined this issue. This study aims to document the long-term impacts of the spring floods of 2019 in Quebec by (1) describing the population affected by the floods; (2) assessing the [...] Read more.
Background: Although floods may have important respiratory health impacts, few studies have examined this issue. This study aims to document the long-term impacts of the spring floods of 2019 in Quebec by (1) describing the population affected by the floods; (2) assessing the impacts on the respiratory system according to levels of exposure; and (3) determining the association between stressors and respiratory health. Methods: A population health survey was carried out across the six most affected regions 8–10 months post-floods. Data were collected on self-reported otolaryngology (ENT) and respiratory symptoms, along with primary and secondary stressors. Three levels of exposure were examined: flooded, disrupted and unaffected. Results: One in ten respondents declared being flooded and 31.4% being disrupted by the floods. Flooded and disrupted participants reported significantly more ENT symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.18; 95% CI: 2.45–4.14; aOR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.45–2.14) and respiratory symptoms (aOR: 3.41; 95% CI: 2.45–4.75; aOR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.10–1.91) than the unaffected participants. All primary stressors and certain secondary stressors assessed were significantly associated with both ENT and respiratory symptoms, but no “dose–response” gradient could be observed. Conclusion: This study highlights the long-term adverse effects of flood exposure on respiratory health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fourth Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM))
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20 pages, 787 KiB  
Article
“Well, I Signed Up to Be a Soldier; I Have Been Trained and Equipped Well”: Exploring Healthcare Workers’ Experiences during COVID-19 Organizational Changes in Singapore, from the First Wave to the Path towards Endemicity
by Celene Ting, Alyssa Yenyi Chan, Lai Gwen Chan and Zoe Jane-Lara Hildon
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2477; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042477 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3721
Abstract
(1) Background: As COVID-19 transmission continues despite vaccination programs, healthcare workers (HCWs) face an ongoing pandemic response. We explore the effects of this on (1) Heartware, by which we refer to morale and commitment of HCWs; and identify how to improve (2) Hardware, [...] Read more.
(1) Background: As COVID-19 transmission continues despite vaccination programs, healthcare workers (HCWs) face an ongoing pandemic response. We explore the effects of this on (1) Heartware, by which we refer to morale and commitment of HCWs; and identify how to improve (2) Hardware, or ways of enabling operational safety and functioning. (2) Methods: Qualitative e-diary entries were shared by HCWs during the early phases of the outbreak in Singapore from June to August 2020. Data were collected via an online survey of n = 3616 HCWs of all cadres. Nine institutions—restructured hospitals (n = 5), affiliated primary partners (n = 2) and hospices (n = 2)—participated. Applied thematic analysis was undertaken and organized according to Heartware and Hardware. Major themes are in italics (3) Results: n = 663 (18%) HCWs submitted a qualitative entry. Dominant themes undermining (1) Heartware consisted of burnout from being overworked and emotional exhaustion and at times feeling a lack of appreciation or support at work. The most common themes overriding morale breakers were a stoic acceptance to fight, adjust and hold the line, coupled with motivation from engaging leadership and supportive colleagues. The biggest barrier in (2) Hardware analysis related to sub-optimal segregation strategies within wards and designing better protocols for case detection, triage, and admissions criteria. Overall, the most cited enabler was the timely and well-planned provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for front-liners, though scope for scale-up was called for by those not considered frontline. Analysis maps internal organizational functioning to wider external public and policy-related narratives. (4) Conclusions: COVID-19 surges are becoming endemic rather than exceptional events. System elasticity needs to build on known pillars coupling improving safety and care delivery with improving HCW morale. Accordingly, a model capturing such facets of Adaptive Pandemic Response derived from our data analyses is described. HCW burnout must be urgently addressed, and health systems moved away from reactive “wartime” response configurations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fourth Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM))
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8 pages, 695 KiB  
Systematic Review
Using Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions to Assess Primary Health Care Performance during Disasters: A Systematic Review
by Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo, Martina Valente, Chiara Aleni, Ives Hubloue, Luca Ragazzoni and Francesco Barone-Adesi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159193 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1819
Abstract
Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are health conditions for which appropriate primary care intervention could prevent hospital admission. ACSC hospitalization rates are a well-established parameter for assessing the performance of primary health care (PHC). Although this indicator has been extensively used to monitor [...] Read more.
Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are health conditions for which appropriate primary care intervention could prevent hospital admission. ACSC hospitalization rates are a well-established parameter for assessing the performance of primary health care (PHC). Although this indicator has been extensively used to monitor the performance of PHC systems in peacetime, its consideration during disasters has been neglected. The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged the importance of PHC in guaranteeing continuity of care during and after a disaster for avoiding negative health outcomes. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the extent and nature of research activity on the use of ACSCs during disasters, with an eye toward finding innovative ways to assess the level of PHC function at times of crisis. Online databases were searched to identify papers. A final list of nine publications was retrieved. The analysis of the reviewed articles confirmed that ACSCs can serve as a useful indicator of PHC performance during disasters, with several caveats that must be considered. The reviewed articles cover several disaster scenarios and a wide variety of methodologies showing the connection between ACSCs and health system performance. The strengths and weaknesses of using different methodologies are explored and recommendations are given for using ACSCs to assess PHC performance during disasters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fourth Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM))
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