Role of media and the media hypes in the aftermath of mass casualty incidents a qualitative thematic content analysis.

Mehjabeen Musharraf Mehjabeen Musharraf,Ambreen Aslam,Lubna Baig Lubna Baig

doi:10.47391/jpma.166

Mehjabeen Musharraf Mehjabeen Musharraf, Ambreen Aslam + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.47391/jpma.166

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Abstract

To explore the role of media during mass casualty events and its impact on people. The qualitative thematic content analysis was conducted at Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, from 2018 to 2020 and comprised of semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving participants from the health sector and policymakers at the provincial level. The Frontline Workers such as the ambulance drivers and the first-aid-givers were also included. Data was subjected to conventional content analysis to generate themes. There were 5 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions in the study. Qualitative analysis revealed that the media has a great deal to do in times of a disaster. The media is the strongest weapon and largely impacts people's mind and behaviour, but it has been playing with their emotions and creating unrest among them. There is a need for the policymakers to set guidelines and define the role of the media in times of a disaster.

Highlights

There is a need for the policymakers to set guidelines and define the role of the media in times of a disaster
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines an mass casualty incident (MCI) as an event resulting in a number of victims that is big enough to disrupt the normal course of emergency and healthcare services[3]
MCIs have affected more than 2.6 billion people globally, with the major incidents occurring in the developing world, in the southeast Asian region where 26% of the world population lives