Emergency Management Research Articles

AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH LITERACY LEVELS OF STUDENTS IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Aim: This study aimed to assess the health literacy levels of students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at a public university and to investigate the relationships and differences between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and their health literacy levels. Methods: The study employed a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational research design. Data were gathered through face-to-face surveys, utilizing a socio-demographic data form and the THLS-32 scale. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 22.00. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions, percentages, standard deviations, and arithmetic means, were calculated. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of data distribution, which revealed a non-normal distribution. As a result, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis H Test) were applied. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman’s Rho coefficient, and statistical significance was evaluated at a 95% confidence interval with a 5% margin of error. Results: The findings indicated that 66.3% of participants exhibited sufficient or excellent health literacy levels. Female students had significantly higher TS-AI perceptions than male students. Health Management (HM) students demonstrated higher health literacy levels compared to Emergency Aid and Disaster Management (EADM) students. The highest literacy levels were observed among final-year students, and students with social security had higher TS perceptions than those without. Conclusion: The study concluded that the health literacy levels of students in the Faculty of Health Sciences were generally high, with significant differences based on gender, department, academic year, and social security status. These findings suggest a need for targeted strategies to improve health literacy, particularly among students in certain departments and those without social security

Emergency intervention plans for treatment of suicidal patients: anarrative literature review

Safety or emergency plan interventions, i.e., the creation of alist of hierarchically organized strategies and persons/institutions that patients can use or contact in case of asuicidal escalation, are increasingly used in clinical practice. This narrative review describes the approach for establishing an emergency plan and discusses studies on the effectiveness of such interventions. In addition, ideas on the mode of action of corresponding interventions and application variants are discussed. Despite increasing dissemination of safety plans, empirical evidence of their effectiveness is currently inadequate. High-quality studies are urgently needed, particularly with respect to different clinical populations. At this point in time, it should be cautioned against understanding the creation of an emergency plan as asufficient intervention in dealing with suicidal patients.

Emergency Management in Japan: Human Decision‐Making Strategy Analysis During Large‐Scale Earthquake

ABSTRACTIn the context of unexpected disasters, comprehending individual decision‐making strategy is essential for governmental policy formulation and evacuation planning. The main challenges stem from the absence of large‐scale mobility data and the complex influences of multiple factors on personal strategies. To address this, this study focuses on the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan as a case, which struck at 14:46 on March 11, a typical working day. Decision‐making strategies regarding how people return home from their workplaces have emerged as a primary concern. Therefore, we construct a large human mobility database for the Greater Tokyo area, and develop an empirical prediction for decision‐making strategies following earthquakes with the consideration of multiple factors. Except for users' location‐based information, we extract the grid‐based stay areas from historical stay records (normal days before disasters) and discover the functions of these areas combined with points of interest located within them. Experimental results indicate the effectiveness of our proposed framework in strategy prediction. Besides, we conduct an explainable feature importance analysis of key factors, which also provides insights for understanding human decisions during disasters.

Parentalistic leadership and crisis responses by small entrepreneurial firms

Parentalistic leadership and crisis responses by small entrepreneurial firms

Türkiye's responses to the 2023 earthquakes: An application of family adjustment and adaptation response model

AbstractAfter devastating earthquakes struck Türkiye in February 2023, the country faced the challenge of addressing the psychosocial needs of the survivors. This article uses the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response (FAAR) model to conceptualize Türkiye's responses to the earthquakes in terms of its demands (i.e., cumulative strains and current stressors), capabilities (i.e., existing resources and coping mechanisms), and meaning/belief systems (i.e., shared meaning, religion/spirituality, and positive outlook/hope). A historical context is provided to better understand the cumulative tensions and resilience of the country, seeking ways to strengthen effective crisis responses in anticipation of an even bigger earthquake in the coming years. Additionally, this article may spark a conversation among family practitioners in different countries about how to collaborate on mobilizing resources during challenging times.

Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons.

Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane landfalls. This work investigates past and future changes in North Atlantic TC activity, focusing on interannual variability and evaluating the contributions from anthropogenic forcing. We show that interannual variability of Atlantic TC activity has already increased, evidenced by an increase in the occurrence of both extremely active and inactive TC seasons. TC-resolving general circulation models project a 36% increase in the variance of North Atlantic TC activity, measured by accumulated cyclone energy, by the middle of the 21st century. These changes are the result of increased variability in vertical wind shear and atmospheric stability, in response to enhanced Pacific-to-Atlantic interbasin sea surface temperature variations. Robust anthropogenic-forced intensification in the variability of Atlantic TC activity will continue in the future, with important implications for emergency planning and societal preparedness.

Open Source Adoption for Digital Transformation and Data Management During the COVID-19 Crisis

With COVID-19-led business disruption and businesses expediting their move towards digital transformation, Industry experts observed a phenomenon of increased adoption of Open Source Software and database management systems to digitalize the business while keeping costs low. This research has studied this phenomenon using a three-step approach: using the collective intelligence of Twitter without the context of COVID-19, Twitter data with the context of COVID-19, and empirical validation with actual monthly downloads data of open source projects from SourceForge in Pre-COVID and COVID-19 time periods. The research finds that although the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a digital transformation and the use of database management systems in many organizations, but there is no statistically significant increased use that can be attributed to a crisis response due to the pandemic.

The Effect of Emergency Training on Improving Knowledge and Skills in Emergency Management Among Students at MAN 2 Palu

Introduction: An emergency is a situation or condition where there is an immediate threat or occurrence of harm that may lead to further damage (loses). In modern times, emergency preparedness has become a critical aspect of daily life, particularly in school environments. Incidents such as accidents, fires, and the need for first aid interventions highlight the increasing importance of emergency training for students. Objective: To analyze the effect of emergency training on improving students' knowledge and skills in managing emergencies. Method: This study employed a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach. A total of 81 students from MAN 2 Palu participated in the study. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess changes in knowledge and skills, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Result:. The mean pretest knowledge score was 9.16 (SD: 1.94), and the posttest score was 17.54 (SD: 0.67). The Wilcoxon test indicated a significant improvement in knowledge following the training (p = 0.000, p < 0.05). Similarly, the mean pretest score for basic life support skills was 3.44 (SD: 0.63), which increased to 5.93 (SD: 0.26) post-training. The mean score for splint dressing skills improved from 2.37 (SD: 0.64) pretest to 7.93 (SD: 0.30) posttest, and choking aid skills improved from 2.69 (SD: 0.54) to 3.98 (SD: 0.15) posttest. All skill improvements were statistically significant (p = 0.000, p < 0.05), which means providing emergency training has a positive effect on improving emergency skills among students. Conclusion: Emergency training significantly improves both the knowledge and skills of students in managing emergencies. This training is expected to improve students' ability to provide effective first aid in emergencies before professional medical assistance is available.

Navigating Concurrent Disasters: Lessons learned from a Hospital Evacuation Amidst a Pandemic and an Earthquake.

The concurrent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant earthquake in Izmir on October 30, 2020, presented a unique scenario for disaster management and response. This study focuses on the impact of the earthquake, which resulted in 117 fatalities, including 1 due to drowning, and injured 1034 individuals, alongside widespread structural damage including to the Izmir Democracy University Buca Seyfi Demirsoy Training and Research Hospital. The objective is to assess the activation and implementation of the hospital disaster plan amidst the ongoing pandemic. Through a retrospective evaluation of all actions undertaken as per the Hospital Disaster Emergency Plan within the Disaster Management cycle, this study examines the decision-making process for the hospital evacuation on October 30, 2020, the evacuation of COVID-19 patients, and the strategies employed to increase hospital capacity. Of 216 patients hospitalized at the time of the earthquake, 65 were transferred to other facilities under COVID-19 protocols. The prolonged nature of pandemics and the likelihood of secondary disasters underscore the importance of comprehensive risk assessments and dynamic disaster planning, considering simultaneous multiple hazards. This study suggests the inclusion of multi hazard scenarios and diverse evacuation methods by using types of ambulances, such as ground, helicopter, and boat.

Effects of surgeon specialization on the outcome of emergency colorectal surgery

Background: Colonic emergencies remain a major lifethreatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Unlike elective colorectal surgical procedures, a large portion of emergency colorectal surgical procedures are performed by noncolorectal surgeons (NCRS). The impact of specialization on the outcome of emergency colorectal surgery has not yet been well described. We aimed to evaluate the impact of surgeon specialization on the outcomes of emergency colorectal surgeries. Materials and Methods: A Retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between July 2008 to July 2020. Patients underwent emergency colorectal surgeries and met study inclusion criteria were identified and grouped according to the specialty of the primary surgeon: colorectal surgeons [CRS] or NCRS. Relevant study data was obtained from patient medical files. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the association between the surgeons’ specialty and outcomes. Results: Of 219 included patients, there were 126 men [57.5%] and 93 women [42.4%]. Of all population 128 patients [58%] were operated on by CRS while 91 patients [42%] were operated on by NCRS. Most common procedure performed by CRS was left hemicolectomy [n=45, 67.2%] while the most common procedure performed by NCRS was right hemicolectomy [n=26, 51%]. The most common reason for surgery was malignant pathologies [n=129, 58.9%]. Patients who had their surgeries performed by a CRS had a significant decrease in 30-day mortality [odds ratio [OR] 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.065–0.834]. Reoperation also decreased in this group [OR 0.413, 95% CI 0.179–0.956]. Moreover, both hospital length of stay and ICU length of stay decreased CRS compared with the NCRS [OR 0.636, 95% CI 0.465–0.869, and OR 0.385, 95% CI 0.235–0.63, respectively]. Conclusion: Specialization in colorectal surgery has a significant influence on morbidity and mortality after emergency operations. These findings may in improving emergency services and support remodeling the referral system in the institutions.

EGS SO26 - Back Under the Knife: Unveiling the Fate of non-trauma Patients Returning to the Emergency Theatre

Abstract Background Offering a planned or unplanned second operation in emergency general surgery is not uncommon. However, there is a scarcity of data in this context. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of patients who were offered two emergency operations to those who required one operation, focusing on complications, increased level of care at discharge and mortality rates. Method We identified those patients who underwent planned and unplanned revisits to the emergency theatre between July 2020 and July 2023. Inclusion criteria were consistent with the established UK National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA at our centre over three years.. We examined demographics, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification, indications and outcomes in terms of complications, increased post-operative care levels and mortality rates. Results 390 patients (89.3%) required one operation (1OP) and 47 (10.7%)patients underwent two operations (2OP) . The median age was 70 years for 1OP and 71 years for 2OP, with a male-to-female ratio of 192:198 in 1OPG and 22:25 in 2OP. The median ASA score (2 vs. 3), median frailty score (3 vs. 4) and the median Clavien-Dindo classification (2 vs. 4), and length of stay in days (12 vs. 21) were significantly higher for the 2OP. The increase in the level of care at discharge (30.6% vs. 59%) and the mortality (7.4% vs. 32%) were higher in the 2OP. Conclusion Our study shows that non-trauma patients requiring a second emergency operation face significantly worse outcomes compared to those undergoing only one surgery. Specifically, the group needing two operations experienced higher rates of complications, increased levels of post-operative care, and significantly higher mortality rates. These findings underscore the critical need for close monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach perioperatively. Moreover, these insights can help provide patients and their families with informed decision-making regarding the potential risks and benefits of additional surgical interventions. A prospective multicentre study would be valuable in providing further insights into this subgroup of patients.

HPB SO61 - Benefits of Dual-surgeon On-call team on Emergency Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy – a Single Centre Experience

Abstract Background Since 2015, UK national guidance from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been to offer laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients presenting with acute cholecystitis within 7 days of admission. The aim of this study was to measure the benefits of a second team of surgeons doing emergency operations (first team dealt with emergency admissions and referrals) in terms of length of stay, conversion to open, morbidity, mortality, bile duct injury and rate of early cholecystectomy in a UK based district general hospital. Method Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was collected from electronic health records, admission and operative notes. Results were extracted in terms of index laparoscopic cholecystectomy, rate of conversion, intra-operative cholangiography, associated morbidity, mortality, bile duct injury, conversion to open, readmission rate and length of stay. The numbers and rates of cholecystectomy over the last six years duration was collected and compared year-on-year period, since early 2019 after the implementation of dual-surgeon on-call cover. Results Altogether, there was 944 cholecystectomy performed within 14 days, out of which 74% of cases was operated within the first week of presentation <8 days since admission. Majority of cholecystectomy was performed laparoscopically, there were twenty-three (2.43%) conversion to open, forty-six sub-total cholecystectomies (4.87%),intraoperative cholangiography was performed in 28.4% of cases and Indocyanine green (ICG) cholangiography was used in 50.5% of all cases. Average length-of-stay (LOS) was 2.2 days, there were eight cases (0.84%) of post-op bile leak, one bile-duct injury, one case of post-operative bleed, one case of small bowel injury and two deaths. Conclusion With the adoption of dual-surgeon on call, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy benefits both patient and hospital. It reduces time to surgery for patients, decreases overall length of stay, and reduces readmission rates and cost, with similar morbidity and mortality.

REAL-TIME GIS FOR MONITORING AND SECURITY

Applications of geographic information systems in the security domain are diverse and cover various aspects such as crisis prevention and management, public safety, national security, critical infrastructure protection and military applications. Real-time GIS is essential for effective emergency response and management because it provides accurate information on the location and dynamics of events.

The Role of Communication Strategies in Crisis Management: A Comparative Analysis Across Industries

This study examines the role of communication strategies in effective crisis management across different industries, highlighting how tailored approaches can mitigate risks, preserve reputation, and foster stakeholder trust. Using a qualitative methodology, including interviews with crisis managers, PR experts, and analysis of case studies from sectors such as finance, healthcare, and technology, this research explores how industry-specific communication strategies influence crisis response effectiveness. Findings reveal that timely, transparent, and empathetic communication plays a pivotal role in managing public perception and minimizing reputational damage. Industries with proactive communication frameworks—characterized by rapid information dissemination and active stakeholder engagement—were found to navigate crises more effectively, restoring public trust faster than industries with reactive strategies. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of adapting communication tactics to the unique nature of each industry, noting that sectors with high public scrutiny, such as healthcare, benefit from clear, consistent messaging to mitigate misinformation and alleviate public concern. This research contributes to crisis management literature by providing insights into the strategic role of communication, underscoring the need for adaptable, industry-specific communication frameworks that prioritize transparency and empathy. These findings suggest that organizations can enhance their crisis resilience by developing communication strategies that not only respond to immediate concerns but also align with the broader expectations of their stakeholders.

Evaluation of joystick built-in emergency stop function for mobile elevating work platform safety and human factors and ergonomics in accident prevention

Evaluation of joystick built-in emergency stop function for mobile elevating work platform safety and human factors and ergonomics in accident prevention

Prepare for the worst: Make evacuation plans accessible

The 2024 hurricane season had more than its fair share of hurricanes, tornadoes, and tropical storms. Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Ernesto, Helene, and Milton caused tens of billions of dollars in property damage, including damage to college and university campuses, plus hundreds of deaths. These hurricanes, as well as other natural disasters, serve as a reminder for postsecondary institutions to engage in emergency planning.

Analysis of the Causes and Configuration Paths of Explosion Accidents in Chemical Companies Based on the REASON Model

Explosion accidents, representing one of the most severe accident types within the chemical industry, pose substantial threats to personnel safety, economic losses, and environmental pollution, among other consequences. This paper constructs a research framework based on the REASON theory, utilizing accident investigation reports of 30 typical chemical enterprise explosion accidents in China from 2013–2022 as research samples. The fsQCA method is employed to deeply explore the influencing factors and causal configuration pathways of chemical explosion accidents from a configurational perspective. The study findings indicate that the occurrence of explosions in chemical enterprises is the result of the coupled effects of multiple factors, with five complex accident causation configurations, which can be summarized into the following three categories: organizational management deficiencies, supervision deficiencies, and behavior–risk linkages. Organizational management and safety supervision have a direct and significant impact on the occurrence of explosions in chemical enterprises and are key factors in the accidents. The research conclusions contribute to a rational understanding of the complex causes of explosions in chemical enterprises and provide practical guidance for the prevention and control of such accidents.

Investigation of Freeway Incident Duration Using Classification and Regression Trees Based on Multisource Data

Targeted contingency measures have proven highly effective at reducing the duration and harm caused by incidents. This study utilized the Classification and Regression Trees (CART) data mining technique to predict and quantify the duration of incidents. To achieve this, multisensor data collected from the Hangzhou freeway in China spanning from 2019 to 2021 was utilized to construct a regression tree with eight levels and 14 leaf nodes. By extracting 14 rules from the tree and establishing contingency measures based on these rules, accurate incident assessment and effective implementation of post-incident emergency plans were achieved. In addition, to more accurately apply the research findings to actual incidents, the CART method was compared with XGBoost, Random Forest (RF), and AFT (accelerated failure time) models. The results indicated that the prediction accuracy of the CART model is better than the other three models. Furthermore, the CART method has strong interpretability. Interactions between explanatory variables, up to seven, are captured in the CART method, rather than merely analyzing the effect of individual variables on the incident duration, aligning more closely with actual incidents. This study has important practical implications for advancing the engineering application of machine learning methods and the analysis of sensor data.

Accident cause analysis for lifting prefabricated components of assembled buildings based on hybrid simulation technology from human factor perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the characteristics of lifting accidents and the significance of influencing factors and explain the causes from the perspective of human factors, thereby achieving a more accurate understanding of and prevention of lifting accidents.Design/methodology/approachA mixed simulation model for prefabricated component lifting is established by combining discrete event simulation (DES) with the system dynamics (SD) method. In addition, essential parameters and relationships within the system dynamics model are determined through survey questionnaires. Finally, the human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS) is used to analyze the cause of the accident.FindingsThe results show that workers falling from height and workers struck by objects are the most frequent types of lifting accidents. In 2072 experiments, these two types of accidents occurred three and five times, respectively. Besides, the links of “crane movement,” “component binding,” “component placement” and “component unhooking” are particularly prone to lifting accidents. In addition, the completeness of emergency plans, failure to observe the status of the tower crane and lack of safety education and training have emerged as primary influencing factors contributing to the occurrence of lifting accidents.Originality/valueThe findings of the study can serve as a reference basis for practitioners, enabling them to preemptively identify possible risk accidents and adopt corresponding measures to prevent them, ensuring the safety and property of practitioners. Additionally, targeted suggestions and innovative ideas are provided to enhance the safety guarantee of the lifting industry and promote its healthy and stable development through a more concrete theoretical foundation and practical guidance.

Suicide prevention via telemental health services: insights from a randomized control trial of crisis response plan and self-guided safety planning approaches.

Although telemental health can make suicide prevention treatments more scalable and accessible, limited evidence demonstrates successful reductions in suicidality when interventions are administered through telehealth platforms. To address this limitation, the current work investigated the effects of two suicide prevention treatments - a clinician-guided Crisis Response Plan and a self-guided Safety Planning approach. After completing the screening process, 82 participants with high suicide ideation and/or a lifetime history of suicidal behavior were randomly assigned across the two groups. Trained research clinicians administered the interventions using a videoconferencing platform. After the intervention delivery was complete, participants reported the therapeutic alliance they experienced with their clinician using an online survey. Participants also reported their overall suicidality 45 days after receiving the intervention. In addition, participants' perceived usefulness of the received intervention and actual use of the plan were recorded. Linear and logistic regression models predicted how suicidality, perceived utility, and actual use of their intervention protocols varied depending on the high (Crisis Response Plan) versus low (self-guided Safety Planning) level of clinician-led collaboration the two treatments entailed. Both Crisis Response Plan and self-guided Safety Planning were found to lower suicidality after receiving them via telehealth services. At the same time, those who received the Crisis Response Plan (the more collaborative form of therapy) reported experiencing a stronger therapeutic alliance with the clinician, utilizing the plan more often and perceiving it as more useful. These findings demonstrate the additional benefits of adopting a more collaborative approach because of its effectiveness and perceived utility, which has implications for suicide-related distress reduction in the short and long term. Evidence from this randomized control trial suggests that Crisis Response Plan is a suitable candidate for delivering suicide prevention via telehealth platform because of its effectiveness in reducing suicidality and its collaborative approach to building a strong therapeutic alliance, perceived usefulness, and actual utility in everyday life. This paper was part of a registered RCT: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04888845 . Registration date: Date: 2021-04-22.