Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 30 in total

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  1. Ethical dilemmas related to predictions and warnings of impending natural disaster
    Phua KL, Hue JW
    Am J Disaster Med, 2013;8(4):243-52.
    PMID: 24481888 DOI: 10.5055/ajdm.2013.0130
    Scientists and policy makers issuing predictions and warnings of impending natural disaster are faced with two major challenges, that is, failure to warn and issuing a false alarm. The consequences of failure to warn can be serious for society overall, for example, significant economic losses, heavy infrastructure and environmental damage, large number of human casualties, and social disruption. Failure to warn can also have serious for specific individuals, for example, legal proceedings against disaster research scientists, as in the L'Aquila earthquake affair. The consequences of false alarms may be less serious. Nevertheless, false alarms may violate the principle of nonmaleficence (do no harm), affect individual autonomy (eg, mandatory evacuations), and may result in the "cry wolf" effect. Other ethical issues associated with natural disasters include the promotion of global justice through international predisaster technical assistance and postdisaster aid. Social justice within a particular country is promoted through greater postdisaster aid allocation to the less privileged.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/organization & administration*
  2. Researching natural disaster preparedness through health behavioral change models
    Samah AA, Zaremohzzabieh Z, Shaffril HAM, D'Silva JL, Kamarudin S
    Am J Disaster Med, 2019 8 24;14(1):51-63.
    PMID: 31441028 DOI: 10.5055/ajdm.2019.0315
    There have been an increasing number of studies conducted on community preparedness, particularly on changing individual health behaviors in ways that minimizes individual risk to cope with the stress of a natural disaster. A variety of behavioral change theories and models used by disaster academics scrutinize the manner in which individual behavior is sought and transformed into disaster preparedness. This reflects the lack of knowledge about how these models identify certain behaviors regarding natural disaster preparation. This article seeks to address this lack of knowledge. It presents a set of health behavioral change models that can be used by scholars to comprehend variation in the nature and extent of individual disaster preparedness. The purpose of this study is to provide a review of the existing models on the subject, and also to present a comparative analysis of the models that may contribute to ways of understanding the investigation on natural disaster preparedness behaviors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning*
  3. Anatomy of a burns disaster: the Miri Bank explosion
    Wu WT, Ngim RC
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1992 Sep;21(5):640-8.
    PMID: 1292393
    A bank explosion in a neighbouring country over 1000 km away resulted in ten badly burned victims being airlifted to the Burns Centre, Singapore General Hospital (BCSGH) for treatment. The severely injured included patients with 90%, 80%, 74%, 66%, 45%, 33% and 31% burns. Nine had respiratory burns (four severe, one moderate, four mild). One patient died, thus, the mortality rate for the six most severely injured was 16.7%. This differs from predicted mortality rates of 78% according to McCoy or 54% according to Thompson, Herndon et al. The factors contributing to this result were the small size of the disaster, the use of an established Burns Mass Disaster plan and an individual management policy that incorporates carefully monitored fluid resuscitation, recognition of respiratory burns with early treatment by intubation thus pre emptying complications, early surgery and a multidisciplinary approach to complications such as infection and renal failure. The average length of stay was 43 days (range 5-122 days). The cost of the hospitalisation of the ten casualties was $312,317.00.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  4. Urbanization, Extreme Events, and Health: The Case for Systems Approaches in Mitigation, Management, and Response
    Siri JG, Newell B, Proust K, Capon A
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 Mar;28(2 Suppl):15S-27S.
    PMID: 26219559 DOI: 10.1177/1010539515595694
    Extreme events, both natural and anthropogenic, increasingly affect cities in terms of economic losses and impacts on health and well-being. Most people now live in cities, and Asian cities, in particular, are experiencing growth on unprecedented scales. Meanwhile, the economic and health consequences of climate-related events are worsening, a trend projected to continue. Urbanization, climate change and other geophysical and social forces interact with urban systems in ways that give rise to complex and in many cases synergistic relationships. Such effects may be mediated by location, scale, density, or connectivity, and also involve feedbacks and cascading outcomes. In this context, traditional, siloed, reductionist approaches to understanding and dealing with extreme events are unlikely to be adequate. Systems approaches to mitigation, management and response for extreme events offer a more effective way forward. Well-managed urban systems can decrease risk and increase resilience in the face of such events.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/methods*
  5. Fulltext Preparing for the Next Pandemic: An Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) Initiative
    Gatellier L, Ong SK, Matsuda T, Ramlee N, Lau FN, Yusak S, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2021 Sep 01;22(9):2945-2950.
    PMID: 34582666 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.9.2945
    The COVID-pandemic has shown significant impact on cancer care from early detection, management plan to clinical outcomes of cancer patients. The Asian National Cancer Centres Alliance (ANCCA) has put together the 9 "Ps" as guidelines for cancer programs to better prepare for the next pandemic. The 9 "Ps" are Priority, Protocols and Processes, Patients, People, Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs), Pharmaceuticals, Places, Preparedness, and Politics. Priority: to maintain cancer care as a key priority in the health system response even during a global infectious disease pandemic. Protocol and processes: to develop a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and have relevant expertise to man the Disease Outbreak Response (DORS) Taskforce before an outbreak. Patients: to prioritize patient safety in the event of an outbreak and the need to reschedule cancer management plan, supported by tele-consultation and use of artificial intelligence technology. People: to have business continuity planning to support surge capacity. PPEs and Pharmaceuticals: to develop plan for stockpiles management, build local manufacturing capacity and disseminate information on proper use and reduce wastage. Places: to design and build cancer care facilities to cater for the need of triaging, infection control, isolation and segregation. Preparedness: to invest early on manpower building and technology innovations through multisectoral and international collaborations. Politics: to ensure leadership which bring trust, cohesion and solidarity for successful response to pandemic and mitigate negative impact on the healthcare system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/methods*
  6. Systematic review on the current state of disaster preparation Simulation Exercises (SimEx)
    Mahdi SS, Jafri HA, Allana R, Battineni G, Khawaja M, Sakina S, et al.
    BMC Emerg Med, 2023 May 24;23(1):52.
    PMID: 37226121 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00824-8
    INTRODUCTION: The simulation exercise (SimEx) simulates an emergency in which an elaboration or description of the response is applied. The purpose of these exercises is to validate and improve plans, procedures, and systems for responding to all hazards. The purpose of this study was to review disaster preparation exercises conducted by various national, non-government, and academic institutions.

    METHODOLOGY: Several databases, including PubMed (Medline), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), BioMed Central, and Google Scholar, were used to review the literature. Information was retrieved using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and documents were selected according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). To assess the quality of the selected articles, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) technique was utilized.

    RESULTS: A total of 29 papers were selected for final review based on PRISMA guidelines and the NOS quality assessment. Studies have shown that many forms of SimEx commonly used in disaster management including tabletop exercises, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises have their benefits and limitations. There is no doubt that SimEx is an excellent tool for improving disaster planning and response. It is still necessary to give SimEx programs a more rigorous evaluation and to standardize the processes more thoroughly.

    CONCLUSIONS: Drills and training can be improved for disaster management, which will enable medical professionals to face the challenges of disaster management in the 21st century.

    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning*
  7. Fulltext Reimagining natural hazards and disaster preparedness: charting a new course for the future
    Goniewicz K, Sarker MNI, Schoch-Spana M
    BMC Public Health, 2023 Mar 28;23(1):581.
    PMID: 36978174 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15497-y
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning*
  8. Fulltext Factors associated with healthcare workers willingness to participate in disasters: a cross-sectional study in Sana'a, Yemen
    Al-Hunaishi W, Hoe VC, Chinna K
    BMJ Open, 2019 10 17;9(10):e030547.
    PMID: 31628126 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030547
    OBJECTIVES: Willingness to participate in disasters is usually overlooked and not addressed in disaster preparedness training courses to ensure health service coverage. This will lead to issues during the disaster's response. This study, therefore, aims to assess healthcare workers willingness to participate in biological and natural disasters, and to identify its associated factors.

    DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 1093 healthcare workers. The data were analysed using multiple logistic regression with significance level p<0.05. Ethical clearance and consent of the participants were duly obtained.

    SETTING: In three public hospitals that provide tertiary-level healthcare in Sana'a City, Yemen.

    PARTICIPANTS: There were 692 nurses and doctors (response rate 63.3%) completed the questionnaires.

    RESULTS: Almost half of the participants 55.1% were nurses and 44.9% were doctors. The study found that self-efficacy was associated with willingness to participate in disaster response for any type of disasters (OR 1.319, 95% CI 1.197 to 1.453), natural disasters (OR 1.143, 95% CI 1.069 to 1.221) and influenza pandemic (OR 1.114, 95% CI 1.050 to 1.182). The results further show that willingness is associated with healthcare workers being young, male and having higher educational qualifications.

    CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy has been found to be an important factor associated with willingness. Improving self-efficacy through training in disaster preparedness may increase willingness of healthcare workers to participate in a disaster.

    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  9. Call for Special Issue Papers: Big Data Analytics for Agricultural Disaster Management
    Balamurugan S, Muthu BA, Peng SL, Wahab MHA
    Big Data, 2020 10;8(5):450-451.
    PMID: 33090023 DOI: 10.1089/big.2020.29038.cfp
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning*
  10. Institutional arrangements for flood hazard management in Malaysia: an evaluation using the criteria approach
    Chan NW
    Disasters, 1997 Sep;21(3):206-22.
    PMID: 9301137
    Institutional aspects of flood hazards significantly affect their outcomes in Malaysia. Institutional arrangements to deal with floods include: legislative activity, organisational structures, attitudes and sub-culture, and policies and instruments. When assessed in terms of four specific criteria, institutional aspects of flood hazards are found to be largely inadequate. Disaster reduction programmes are over-dependent on a reactive approach based largely on technology and not even aimed at floods specifically. Structural flood reduction measures are the predominant management tool and, although the importance of non-structural measures is recognised, thus far they have been under-employed. Current laws and regulations with regard to flood management are also insufficient and both the financial and human resources of flood hazard organisations are generally found to be wanting. Finally, economic efficiency, equity and public accountability issues are not adequately addressed by institutional arrangements for flood hazards.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/organization & administration*
  11. Fulltext Hospital disaster preparedness-the real situation on 2014 flood disaster
    Norsyazana Ahmad Zamree, Suzyrman Sibly, Noor Azzah Said
    Education in Medicine Journal, 2018;10(4):1-11.
    MyJurnal
    Floods are known to be commonly occurring natural disasters in most part of the world. In 2014, the
    east coast of Peninsular Malaysia was affected by the worst flood ever recorded in history. The worst
    flood affected area were Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The 2014 flood caused physical and
    monetary losses amounting nearly millions of dollars. Among the worst hit infrastructures in 2014 flood
    disaster were hospitals. This has led to the realization of hospital disaster preparedness and management
    is important which needs to be closely monitored and addressed. This paper investigates the disaster
    preparedness level of selected hospitals affected by flood disasters in Kelantan. Guided interviews with
    the flood-affected hospital disaster committees were carried out and summarized in a summary table to
    give a clear picture of the level of hospital disaster preparedness during the 2014 flood disaster. The
    results show that despite the existence of disaster action plan and protocols there is no standard disaster
    preparedness model being used by hospitals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  12. The use of classroom training and simulation in the training of medical responders for airport disaster
    Idrose AM, Adnan WA, Villa GF, Abdullah AH
    Emerg Med J, 2007 Jan;24(1):7-11.
    PMID: 17183034
    There is a dire need to have complementary form of disaster training which is cost effective, relatively easy to conduct, comprehensive, effective and acceptable. This will complement field drills training. A classroom-based training and simulation module was built by combining multiple tools: Powerpoint lectures, simulations utilising the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) schematic module into 'floortop' model and video show of previous disaster drill. 76 participants made up of medical responders, categorised as Level 1 (specialists and doctors), Level 2 (paramedics), Level 3 (assistant paramedics) and Level 4 (health attendants and drivers) were trained using this module. A pre-test with validated questions on current airport disaster plans was carried out before the training. At the end of training, participants answered similar questions as post-test. Participants also answered questionnaire for assessment of training's acceptance. There was a mean rise from 47.3 (18.8%) to 84.0 (18.7%) in post-test (p<0.05). For Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 the scores were 94.8 (6.3)%, 90.1 (11)%, 80.3 (20.1)% and 65 (23.4)% respectively. Nevertheless Level 4 group gained most increase in knowledge rise from baseline pre-test score (51.4%). Feedback from the questionnaire showed that the training module was highly acceptable. A classroom-based training can be enhanced with favourable results. The use of classroom training and simulation effectively improves the knowledge of disaster plan significantly on the back of its low cost, relatively-easy to conduct, fun and holistic nature. All Levels of participants (from specialists to drivers) can be grouped together for training. Classroom training and simulation can overcome the problem of "dead-document" phenomenon or "paper-plan syndrome".
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/methods*
  13. Natural disasters and Malaysian economic growth: policy reforms for disasters management
    Qureshi MI, Yusoff RM, Hishan SS, Alam AF, Zaman K, Rasli AM
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2019 May;26(15):15496-15509.
    PMID: 30937745 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04866-z
    The natural catastrophic events largely damage the country's sustainability agenda through massive human fatalities and infrastructure destruction. Although it is partially supported the economic growth through the channel of "Schumpeter creative destruction" hypothesis, however, it may not be sustained in the long-run. This study examined the long-run and causal relationships between natural disasters (i.e., floods, storm, and epidemic) and per capita income by controlling FDI inflows and foreign aid in the context of Malaysia, during the period of 1965-2016. The study employed time series cointegration technique, i.e., autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)-bounds testing approach for robust inferences. The results show that flood, storm, and epidemic disasters substantially decrease the country's per capita income, while FDI inflows and foreign aid largely supported the country's economic growth in the short-run. These results are disappeared in the long-run, where flood and storm disasters exhibit the positive association with the economic growth to support the Schumpeter creative destruction hypothesis. The foreign aid decreases the per capita income and does not maintain the "aid-effectiveness" hypotheses in a given country. The causality estimates confirmed the disaster-led growth hypothesis, as the causality estimates running from (i) storm to per capita income, (ii) epidemic to per capita income, and (iii) storm to foreign aid. The results emphasized for making disaster action plans to reduce human fatalities and infrastructure for sustainable development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  14. Infectious diseases following natural disasters: prevention and control measures
    Kouadio IK, Aljunid S, Kamigaki T, Hammad K, Oshitani H
    Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2012 Jan;10(1):95-104.
    PMID: 22149618 DOI: 10.1586/eri.11.155
    Natural disasters may lead to infectious disease outbreaks when they result in substantial population displacement and exacerbate synergic risk factors (change in the environment, in human conditions and in the vulnerability to existing pathogens) for disease transmission. We reviewed risk factors and potential infectious diseases resulting from prolonged secondary effects of major natural disasters that occurred from 2000 to 2011. Natural disasters including floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, tropical cyclones (e.g., hurricanes and typhoons) and tornadoes have been secondarily described with the following infectious diseases including diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, malaria, leptospirosis, measles, dengue fever, viral hepatitis, typhoid fever, meningitis, as well as tetanus and cutaneous mucormycosis. Risk assessment is essential in post-disaster situations and the rapid implementation of control measures through re-establishment and improvement of primary healthcare delivery should be given high priority, especially in the absence of pre-disaster surveillance data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  15. Fulltext Workforce Mobilization From the National Institutes of Health for the Ministry of Health Malaysia: A COVID-19 Pandemic Response
    Muhammad Nur Amir AR, Binti Amer Nordin A, Lim YC, Binti Ahmad Shauki NI, Binti Ibrahim NH
    Front Public Health, 2021;9:574135.
    PMID: 33643985 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.574135
    The COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in 2019 has inflicted numerous clinical and public health challenges worldwide. It was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization and activated response teams at almost all Malaysian healthcare facilities. Upon activation of the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Center in January 2020, the National Institutes of Health Malaysia established a COVID-19 operation room at the facility level to address the rise in COVID-19 infection cases each day. The National Institutes of Health COVID-19 operation room committee formed a workforce mobilization team for an effective and efficient mobilization system to fulfill requests received for human resource aid within the Ministry of Health Malaysia facilities. Selected personnel would be screened for health and availability before mobilization letters and logistics arrangements if necessary. The workforce from the National Institutes of Health, consisting of various job positions, were mobilized every week, with each deployment cycle lasting 2 weeks. A total of 128 personnel from the six institutes under the National Institutes of Health were mobilized: tasks included fever screening, active case detection, health management at quarantine centers, and management of dead bodies. A well-organized data management system with a centralized online system integration could allow more rapid deployment and answer some of the key questions in managing a similar pandemic in the future. With improving infected COVID-19 cases throughout the country, the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 operation room was effectively closed on June 15, 2020, following approval from the Deputy Director-General of Health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  16. Fulltext Nipah outbreak in North Kerala - What worked? Insights for future response and recovery based on examination of various existing frameworks
    Rahim AA, Chacko TV
    Indian J Public Health, 2019 9 26;63(3):261-264.
    PMID: 31552860 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_117_19
    Asia Pacific region has been witnessing numerous public health emergencies in recent years with the Nipah outbreak in North Kerala (2018), India, needs special mention. Threats posed and experiences gained have compelled health systems to draft frameworks nationally and internationally for preparedness, outbreak response, and recovery. Our failure to obtain comprehensive guiding frameworks for application in the Indian context for Ebola, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Influenza A (H1N1), and Nipah outbreaks led us to the search outside India for frameworks that have worked in the past. A thorough review of the WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Malaysian framework was done to identify explicit components and replicable objectives to the national context. In the absence of a specific framework, Nipah recovery and response experience that worked in Kerala outbreak (2018) was compared against novel H1N1 (2015) guidelines at national level. This article provides the groundwork and insights as a value addition toward an India-specific framework of action for response and recovery for Nipah outbreaks in future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/organization & administration*
  17. Fulltext To relax restrictions: Are communities ready to deal with repeated epidemic waves of COVID-19?
    Wang J, Lee YF, Liu F, Zhou M
    Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2021 Feb;42(2):239-240.
    PMID: 32389162 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.228
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/trends
  18. Disaster basics: the life cycle of the disaster management and roles of agencies in Malaysia
    Ahmad Azan R., Ungku Azly U.A., Mohd Juraimy H.K.
    Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2011;8(1):21-32.
    MyJurnal
    Disaster can strike at any time on a small or large scale, but if an institution is prepared, the damage may be reduced or avoided. A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of affected society to cope using only its own resources. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset (sudden or ‘slow burning’), or according to their cause (natural or man-made). There is no single and specific method in handling a disaster. The application and method of disaster management do not only depend on types, location and levels of disaster, but also depend on the effectiveness and good system of management as well as the total commitment of first responders and disaster managers involved in handling a disaster. National Security Council Directive No. 20 is both a proactive and reactive generic plan to manage disasters in Malaysia. It is an integrated disaster management plan in mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning
  19. Disaster preparedness: an investigation on motivation and barriers
    Dorasamy M, Raman M, Marimuthu M, Kaliannan M
    J Emerg Manag, 2013 Nov-Dec;11(6):433-46.
    PMID: 24623112 DOI: 10.5055/jem.2013.0156
    This article presents a preliminary investigation on the motivations for and the barriers that hinder preparedness toward disasters in a community. Survey questionnaires were distributed to local individuals in the nine districts of Selangor state in Malaysia. A total of 402 usable questionnaires were analyzed. The initial findings revealed that community members are motivated for disaster preparedness mainly for family safety reason. However, generally they do not know how to be prepared. This article concludes by highlighting the importance of knowledge and information in community preparedness. This research is limited to one state in Malaysia. However, the chosen state has a large effect on the Malaysian gross domestic product; hence, lack of preparedness poses a critical risk to its large population. This study on motivation and barriers for disaster preparedness is intended to increase the effectiveness of community readiness as a whole toward major disasters such as landslide and flood. The result of this study is valuable to the scientific community within the disaster management domain, the government agencies for policy and strategy formulations, and the local community to preempt, deal with, and ultimately survive disasters. This research aims to ensure that the community is continuously prepared and able to meet the evolving needs of the individual citizen as the nation strives toward promoting a knowledgeable society.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/methods*; Disaster Planning/organization & administration; Disaster Planning/statistics & numerical data
  20. Green reconstruction of the tsunami-affected areas in India using the integrated coastal zone management concept
    Sonak S, Pangam P, Giriyan A
    J Environ Manage, 2008 Oct;89(1):14-23.
    PMID: 17544565
    A tsunami, triggered by a massive undersea earthquake off Sumatra in Indonesia, greatly devastated the lives, property and infrastructure of coastal communities in the coastal states of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand. This event attracted the attention of environmental managers at all levels, local, national, regional and global. It also shifted the focus from the impact of human activities on the environment to the impacts of natural hazards. Recovery/reconstruction of these areas is highly challenging. A clear understanding of the complex dynamics of the coast and the types of challenges faced by the several stakeholders of the coast is required. Issues such as sustainability, equity and community participation assume importance. The concept of ICZM (integrated coastal zone management) has been effectively used in most parts of the world. This concept emphasizes the holistic assessment of the coast and a multidisciplinary analysis using participatory processes. It integrates anthropocentric and eco-centric approaches. This paper documents several issues involved in the recovery of tsunami-affected areas and recommends the application of the ICZM concept to the reconstruction efforts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disaster Planning/organization & administration
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