Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Winter 2019

How to manage patients, transmission times, and therapeutic measurement executed during air transmission can improve training, protocols, and management decisions. The current study aimed at investigating the dispatch criteria and the way of handling patients during transport by air emergency medical services of Kurdistan Province, Iran, in 2017. In the current study, information of patients transported by air emergency ambulance of Kurdistan Province in 2017 was collected from the recorded mission forms. To analyze the information, version 12 of STATA software was employed. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the qualitative variables and draw frequency distribution table and mean and standard deviation to utilize quantitative variables. Out of 50 transported patients, trauma caused by traffic accidents was the most important cause of patient transport (38%). In terms of clinical symptoms, weakness and lethargy and decreased consciousness were the most common symptoms. The most important therapeutic measures executed during transport were oxygen therapy, various body fixations, and serum therapy, respectively. The average time spent at scene was 10.7 minutes and the mean total mission time was 93.72 minutes with a standard deviation of 45.53. The results of the study indicated that the air emergency performance of Kurdistan Province was desirable in terms of dispatch criteria, time of transport and treatment during transportation, but there were weaknesses in the administration of medications during transportation and recording missions and measures in the specific sheets (forms).

Extensive application of radioactive materials to medical and military purposes justifies the necessity of training military nurse students regarding the management of radiation injury. The current study aimed at comparing the effect of two methods (lecture and web-based) of training on the management of radiation-injured patients among military nurse students from 2013 to 2014. The current semi-experimental study was conducted on 60 military nursing students in two military nursing schools in Tehran, Iran selected purposively. Subjects of the study were divided into two groups of 30 as lecture and web-based teaching. The effect of education was measured on three levels of knowledge, comprehension, and application; before, immediately after, and four weeks after completion of teaching. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 21, using Repeated Measures (RM)-ANOVA and t-test. Mean and standard deviation of scores in all learning levels (knowledge, comprehension, and application) in both groups had a significant difference between before and after the intervention (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the total mean scores of the two groups before intervention. In the post-test, immediately after training, mean scores of the web-based group had a greater increase, but no significant difference was observed (P=0.12). In the retention stage (four weeks after training), it was observed that the lecture-based method was more effective (P=0.01). According to the obtained results, learning increased in both methods . Therefore, it is recommended to use the combined teaching method to educate nursing students.

Hospitals, as the first and most important treatment centers for injured people, should be prepared before the crisis to provide health care services in the best possible manner, with appropriate and prompt action. The current study aimed at investigating the accident and disaster preparedness of hospitals affiliated to Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran. The statistical population of the current descriptive, cross sectional study was all hospitals affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2017. The main tool to collect information in the study was the checklist of preparedness for disasters designed by Hojjat et al. A group of 20 faculty members of the Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences evaluated the checklist and confirmed its validity. Also, the reliability of the instrument was evaluated using a test-retest method on one of the research units based on Kappa test with a value of 0.8 in acceptable range. Data were collected and coded with SPSS software version 19. The highest level of disaster preparedness at Jundishapur University of medical sciences in Ahvaz belonged to human inferiority with an average score of 67.66±8; 16 of 100, and the lowest belonged to the emergency areas with an average score of 3.75±0.77 or 43 of 100. Imam Khomeini Hospital was in a better status than the other hospitals in terms of emergency, reception, discharging and transferring, traffic, and communication. In terms of education, Abuzar Hospital had the highest level of preparedness; and regarding support and management of health care practices, Salamat Hospital had the highest level for disaster preparedness.  The preparedness of hospitals affiliated to Jondishapour University was in moderate status and Imam Khomeini Hospital had the highest level of accident and disaster preparedness.

More than a million people worldwide die by suicide every year, the risk of committing suicide in healthcare related occupations, especially nursing, is much higher than other occupations. The current study aimed at investigating the role of the Thwarted Belongingness (TB), Perceived Burdensomeness (PB), Self-Efficacy (SE), and Ego Strength (ES) in predicating Suicidal Ideation (SI) in nurses. In the current descriptive-correlational study, convenience sampling method was employed to select 120 nurses of hospitals in Ardabil, Iran. The participants completed the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Psychology Inventory Ego Strengths (PIES), and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics indices, Pearson correlation analysis, and multivariate regression with SPSS V. 23. The obtained result showed a significant and positive relationship between Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness, and Suicidal Ideation as well as a significant and negative relationship between Self-Efficacy and Ego Strength, and Suicidal Ideation. Also, the result of the multivariate regression showed that Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, Self-Efficacy, and Ego Strength predictability can account for 46% of Suicidal Ideation. Also, the result showed that Perceived Burdensomeness could explain and predict Suicidal Ideation better than other variables. Generally, Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness, as two interpersonal factors, and Self-Efficacy and Ego Strength, as two intrapersonal factors, can predict Suicidal Ideation of nurses. Possession of the sense of Thwarted Belongingness leads to a feeling of loneliness, and perceiving burdensomeness leads to a feeling of self-hatred, and ultimately, the combination of these two structures leads to the formation of Suicidal Ideation. Also, poor Self-Efficacy leads to negative judgment of abilities and the low Ego Strength uses inappropriate defense mechanisms such as denial and suppression, and ultimately, the combination of these two forms Suicidal Ideation. Therefore, providing the training to improve interpersonal relationships in order to reduce the felling of Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness as well as individual counseling to improve Self-Efficacy and Ego Strength can be effective in reducing Suicidal Ideation and suicide attempt in nurses.

Due to the importance of industrial accidents in workplaces, the current study aimed at epidemiologically investigating occupational accidents in some industrial sites in Semnan, Iran. The current descriptive-analytical study was conducted on all accidents taking place from 2014 to 2016 in some industrial sites in Semnan. The data were extracted from the Department of Labor and Social Affairs of Semnan. SPSS software version 21 was employed to analyze data using Chi-square and logistic regression tests. The mean and standard deviation of workers age in non-fatal and fatal accidents were 30.58±16.14 and 35.17±12.34 years, respectively. There was no significant difference in variables such as gender, workers experience, marital status, type of industry (construction, mining, rubber, and agriculture), and educational level between fatal and non-fatal accidents (P>0.05). A significant relationship was observed between insurance coverage status and fatal accidents (P=0.001). The rate of fatal accidents was about five times more in 2015 than 2014 (P=0.01; OR=4.76). The rate of accidents in industrial sites can be significantly reduced by taking advantage of accident prevention programs and training courses. Occupational safety and health program can promote the performance of workers. In this regard, the development and conduction of industrial emergency plans can reduce fatal accident rates.

The current study aimed at examining Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) on the rate of accidents and disaster preparedness committee and nursing staff of Imam Ali Hospital in Zarand, Iran. The current semi-experimental study was conducted on the members of Crisis Committee (n=9) and nursing personnel (n=38) selected by fully count model. Data collection tools were two valid and reliable questionnaires: hospital disaster preparedness and the nurses’ disaster preparedness. Hospital disaster preparedness also included a two-day workshop on hospital incident command system and the nurses’ disaster preparedness included a one-day workshop on disaster management. Members of the Crisis Committee and nurses were evaluated based on hospital disaster preparedness and nurses’ disaster preparedness questionnaires before and one month after intervention. SPSS V. 16 was used to analyze data. Findings of the current study indicated a major increase in the disaster preparedness of the Crisis Committee (from 88.33 to 130.88) and nurses (from 132.63 to 2077.56) after intervention; in addition, a significant improvement was observed in the nurses group (P=0.000) It was concluded that the establishment of HICS and using disaster preparedness program can improve the preparedness of hospital disaster management committee and nursing personnel against disasters.

On Friday, 14 April 2017, a heavy flash flood occurred in North-West of Iran that affected 12 cities; the most severely affected and damaged ones were Ajabshir and Azarshahr in East Azerbaijan Province. These Flash floods claimed the lives of 42 people. Major casualties occurred when the victims were trapped inside their cars. According to preliminary analyses, flood damages in East Azerbaijan Province are estimated to be around three trillion Rials. Following the Flash floods, disaster relief organizations were activated. Iranian President, Minister of Energy, and the provincial authorities rushed to visit flood-stricken areas and oversee the rescue and relief operations.