Measuring Patient Hazard Exposure–The Missing Middle in Disaster Mortality Prevention

Abstract

Introduction:Interventions that mitigate hazard exposures offer the most efficient means of reducing disaster mortality. However, such interventions require an evidence base that describes the relationship between hazard exposure dynamics and health risk. Medical practitioners have long used patient specific hazard exposure assessments to determine acute and chronic disease risk and align medical treatment and care. This study compared patient-specific hazard exposure data collected from people seeking healthcare during seven different natural hazard disaster events and compared the minimum patient data set standards recommended at the time.Method:Patient data collection forms used by primary and secondary health care providers during emergency health and medical responses to seven natural hazard disasters were reviewed. Data fields relating to potential exposure characteristics were recorded and compared to patient data fields used by health services prior to the disaster event. A literature review of definitions of disaster ‘exposure’ adopted by UN disaster management agencies were compared with the health and medical sector.Results:Only the SARS-CoV-2 disaster consistently assessed and recorded details about patient exposure characteristics. Patient hazard exposure data was typically limited to the time of onset of symptoms and duration relative to hazard impact. Little qualitative or quantitative assessment of the magnitude of exposure to any hazard was included, or patient-environmental data. While variables of hazard and vulnerability were extensively studied, and discussed in scholarly and industry literature, the concept of exposure received comparably little attention.Conclusion:Building an evidence base to correlate hazard and environmental exposure characteristics with patient health effects must be prioritized, especially for cohorts vulnerable from physiological or co-morbid factors. Such advances can be made through simple inclusions in minimum patient dataset recommendations. Understanding hazard-exposure dynamics are vital for advancing emergency health responses toward early intervention and health protection from future hazards that threaten functioning of whole health systems.