Development and validation of heat wave hazard adaptation tool: a study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Global warming, climate change, temperature fluctuations, and increasing concern about their possible impacts on health have drawn the attention of scholars and academia around the world. Previous studies suggested heat waves can increase mortality and diseases, the demand for ambulances, hospitalization rates, and severe consequences, especially in vulnerable groups. The most effective measures can be taken by effective planning and providing practical solutions in the mitigation and preparedness stage to prevent and mitigate the effects of disasters. Given the absence of a tool to determine the level of adaptation in the world, this study aimed to identify the strategies to adapt to heat waves and develop a tool to measure the level of adaptation to heat waves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This exploratory sequential mixed methods (qualitative-quantitative) study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, a qualitative study was carried out by conducting interviews with people affected by heat waves. The interview data were used to identify the themes related to adaptation to heat waves and the strategies to adapt to heat waves. In the second phase, a systematic review study was conducted to identify the strategies to adapt to heat waves in the world. Afterward, the data from the qualitative phase and systematic review were used to develop the items in the heatwave adaptation tool. Finally, in the third phase (the quantitative study), the psychometric properties of the developed tool were assessed using face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability indexes. CONCLUSIONS: The developed tool can measure the level of adaptation behaviors of people against heat waves in different communities. Thus, an awareness of less adaptable and more vulnerable communities can contribute to conducting some mitigation and preparedness interventions in these communities

Qualitative Study of Health System Preparedness for Successful Implementation of Disaster Exercises in the Iranian Context

Objectives: Implementing disaster exercises in different parts of the health system is one of the important steps in providing and developing disaster risk management plans. Considering the importance of promoting health system preparedness through exercise, the present study aimed to identify and explain necessary and original components for successful implementation of preparedness exercises of the health-care system in disaster. Methods: The study was a qualitative content analysis. Data were collected by purposeful sampling through in-depth and semi-structured individual interviews with 25 health professionals in disaster. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the data, which extracted the initial codes after performing the recorded interviews on paper and immersing them in the data analysis. Results: The data analysis resulted in the production of 100 initial codes, 14 subcategories, 6 main categories of “coordination and information management,” “standards and indicators,” “conduction and control of the process,” “logistic management and supplies,” “management of treatment operation,” and “management of health operation,” under the original theme of “implementation of exercise.” Conclusions: The findings of this study can greatly increase the attention of senior managers to preparedness in all areas of the health system, especially managers of prehospitals and hospitals who are the forefront of the response to the disaster. The findings of this study can be considered as a guideline for the implementation of principle and standardized health system preparedness exercises