Background: Gender equality is a foundational aspect of the nursing profession. However, there is limited documentation of how gender considerations were incorporated into policy-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored nurses’ perspectives on gender equality policies during the pandemic response phase. Materials and Methods: A qualitative content analysis was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 14 nurses working in COVID-19 wards. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, continuing until data saturation. Data were analyzed following Graneheim and Lundman’s method. Results: The central theme identified was “gender inequality in management policies and resource allocation,” derived from four categories: Inefficient management, inequality in interactions, inequality in resource management, and inadequate attention to staff needs. Nurses reported experiencing gender bias in decision-making and observed unequal access to resources and support during the pandemic. Conclusion: Nurses perceived significant gender inequality in policy-making during the COVID-19 response phase. Health system leaders and policymakers should prioritize gender equity in all stages of disaster preparedness and response. Further research is necessary to explore gender perspectives in similar high-stress healthcare environments.

Background: Emergencies and disasters pose serious health risks, including injuries, diseases, and fatalities, which significantly impact communities. To address both existing and emerging threats to public health, the framework of health emergency and disaster risk management (Health EDRM) emphasizes community participation (CP) as a fundamental component of resilience-building. While previous studies have explored various aspects of Health EDRM, there remains a critical gap in identifying the specific factors, components, and indicators that influence CP. This study aims to address the existing gap by systematically reviewing existing literature to provide a comprehensive framework for enhancing CP in Health EDRM. Materials and Methods: To achieve the objectives of this study, we will employ a scoping review approach inspired by the foundational framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley and later refined by Levac and Peters. This method comprises several essential phases. It begins with formulating clear research questions, followed by identifying relevant studies. These studies will then be subjected to a rigorous screening process. After selection, the data will be systematically organized and categorized. The findings will be synthesized and presented, and finally, input from experts and stakeholders will be gathered to enhance the depth and relevance of the results. This review protocol was designed following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to ensure a transparent and methodologically sound approach. Results: This scoping review will identify key factors, components, and indicators that influence CP in Health EDRM, offering an in-depth summary of the existing body of evidence. Discussion: The review will clarify concepts related to CP approaches in Health EDRM, evaluating study designs, types of CP approaches, and contextual factors. The findings are expected to offer a conceptual framework for future research and guide policymakers in evidence-based decision-making to advance resilience-building strategies. Conclusion: By learning from both national and global experiences, this review will contribute to enhanced community resilience in emergency and disaster settings. It will offer meaningful insights for professionals, policymakers, and researchers to support more efficient risk reduction and resilience-building strategies.

Background: Natural hazards pose threats and opportunities for enhancing health literacy among chronic patients. This study aimed to investigate temporal distribution patterns of health literacy literature in disasters, depict collaborations among researchers and leading countries, and provide insights for future research directions in this domain. Materials and Methods: Mapping studies using bibliographic tools and an oriented scoping review were conducted. A search strategy utilizing synonymous terms for “disaster literacy and chronic diseases” was implemented on Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and PubMed from inception to 2024, resulting in the retrieval of 1,885 articles. VOSviewer, UCINET, and NetDraw software performed analyses. Results: The concept of disaster health literacy (DHL) has grown since 2019. Patients with diabetes, hypertension, respiratory diseases, asthma, cancer, those on dialysis, and stroke survivors faced the most challenges during disasters. Seven thematic clusters of studies were identified, encompassing research methods, types of literacy, vulnerable groups, chronic patients, study locations, disease management, and comorbidity types. Conclusion: Improving DHL plays a pivotal role in empowering individuals with chronic conditions to navigate crises with greater resilience and informed decision-making. To mitigate adverse outcomes, it is essential that national emergency frameworks integrate targeted health literacy interventions tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015–2030 places health at the center of its agenda, calling for the protection of lives, livelihoods, and health services before, during, and after disasters. With over 30 health-specific references, it outlines four core priorities—understanding risk, strengthening governance, investing in resilience, and enhancing preparedness for recovery (“Build Back Better”)—all directly relevant to national health systems.

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Background: Global health crises like pandemics profoundly affect mental well-being, with women experiencing heightened challenges due to increased social and economic pressures. The COVID-19 outbreak amplified feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress among women, prompting a detailed scientific exploration. This research investigates the relationship between overall health and psychological strain among women attending healthcare centers in Larestan, Iran. Materials and Methods: In 2021, a cross-sectional study involved 417 women who completed assessments measuring depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21) alongside a general health evaluation (GHQ-28). Data analysis utilized statistical techniques such as ANOVA (p < 0.05), chi-square tests, and t-tests, processed via SPSS-25 software. Results: Findings revealed that 41% of participants experienced typical levels of depression, while 18% reported intense anxiety, and 31% faced significant to extreme stress. The average GHQ-28 score was 47.68 (SD = 12.07), indicating compromised mental health. Strong associations emerged between GHQ-28 scores and stress (r = 0.65), anxiety (r = 0.69), and depression (r = 0.64), all statistically significant (p < 0.001). Discussion: The psychological toll of the epidemic is reflected in elevated levels of stress and anxiety, which are probably made worse by the pressure of caregiving and financial hardship. In line with reports of pandemic-related anxiety worldwide, strong GHQ-DASS correlations revealed entwined mental and physical health issues. Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak markedly affected women’s psychological well-being, underscoring the necessity for specialized mental health programs within healthcare facilities. Policymakers should prioritize accessible mental health support during global crises.

Background: The rising incidence of healthcare-associated infections underscores the need for strict adherence to standard precautions. The pre-hospital emergency service is the initial contact point for patients, where infection risks can start. This study was conducted with aim to evaluate the factors influencing adherence to standard precautions among pre-hospital emergency personnel. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale (CSPS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 25) and Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests, and Spearman correlation. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study of 206 pre-hospital emergency personnel in Tehran found low compliance with standard precautions (mean score: 13.27 ± 3.38), Standard precaution compliance was significantly and positively associated with marital status, history of health check-ups, history of exposure to body fluids, and the quality of personal protective equipment, with higher compliance observed among individuals possessing these characteristics. No significant links were found with base type (urban/rural) or PPE access. Weak, non-significant correlations were observed with age (r = -0.031, p = 0.668) and work experience (r = -0.075, p = 0.292). Discussion: Given the low compliance with standard precautions among pre-hospital emergency personnel and the rise of emerging and antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases, developing specialized infection control policies and strategies tailored to pre-hospital emergency care is imperative. Conclusion: Improving adherence to standard precautions among pre-hospital emergency personnel is crucial. Strengthening the factors influencing adherence can enhance infection control from the initial stage of medical service delivery.

Background: The Time taken for pre-hospital emergency services to arrive at the scene of an accident plays an effective role in saving patients' lives, and identifying factors affecting this time needs to be investigated. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explain the factors influencing the arrival time of pre-hospital emergency personnel at the emergency scenes. Materials and Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2022 using the conventional content analysis method. Seventeen pre-hospital emergency staff were purposively (inclusion criteria: willingness and ability to express experiences, having at least 6 months of experience working in pre-hospital emergency) selected, and data were collected through in-depth, individual, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Granheim and Lundman's approach. Results: The results included three categories (barriers to care, systemic barriers, and environmental barriers) and seventeen subcategories (human barriers, barriers related to inter-organizational inconsistency, inappropriate urban planning, unsafe care environment, facility and equipment deficiencies, lack of professional staff, and systemic barriers). Discussion: The results of various studies show that a wide range of obstacles, including equipment, human resources, organizational and urban structure, can affect the time it takes emergency personnel to reach the scene of an accident. Conclusion: Effective training and the provision of sufficient manpower to meet regional needs play an effective role in improving the performance of the emergency response system. Coordinating with city managers to improve area and city addresses can significantly reduce the time it takes for personnel to reach the scene of an incident.

Background: Fire safety in emergencies and health care centers is a morally and legally sensitive issue, so if patients or staff are affected by external factors such as fire, this will directly impact the quality of the overall system management and health care. Medical centers are among the places with many fire accidents each year due to the lack of standardization of buildings in terms of fire safety. This study aimed to model and analyze the fire emergency response in emergency department of hospital by HFERP-Net Method. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2019 in the emergency department of a hospital related to Iranian Social Security Organization. The risk assessment of the hospital was done using FRAME method and after that a model was developed according to the Petri net structure for fire emergency response. Results: Task description, task scheduling and the relationship between them were not well defined and it was time consuming. By developing the model and performing a fire drill in the unit, the tasks being identified and the time required for the proper communication between them was reduced. Discussion: The results showed that the fire risk level in the studied unit was unacceptable and the fire safety principles should be upgraded to an acceptable level. This method can be effective for emergency response planning and identifying high fire risks in health centers. Conclusion: By performing drills, potential conflicts of the tasks and resources will be identified and then the emergency response plan can be improved.

Background: The emergency ambulance service is crucial in delivering EMS to patients. This study aimed to assess the driving behavior of ambulance drivers, who are emergency medical personnel. Materials and Methods: Between June and August 2023, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the pre-hospital emergency department of Ardabil province. The study included 400 working staff who were chosen using the census method. Manchester Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), a demographic questionnaire, was ‎conducted for the sample. The MDBQ is a 50-item questionnaire consisting of four subscales: lapse errors, slips, deliberate, and unintentional violations. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation, as well as inferential analysis including analysis of variance, independent t-test, and multiple regression, using SPSS v. 22 statistical software. Results: The results showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between age, work experience, education and type of work shift with the driving behavior of personnel. The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of the total driving behavior score of the personnel was 37.95±7.26. The mean and standard deviation of the dimensions of driving slips, mistakes, intentional violations, and unintentional violations were 14.52±4.26, 6.53±3.05, 13.99±4.04 and 2.88±1.87 respectively. The results of multiple linear regression showed that age, education, and type of work shift were predictors of driving behavior Discussion: The results indicate that fatigue and stress can lead to an increase in ambulance accidents, highlighting the need for better training and shift management to improve driver safety. Conclusions: Training, Promotion of driving culture, risk awareness, and management by the drivers may be effective approaches in reducing the occurrence of emergency vehicle accidents.