Operational Strategies for Establishing Disaster-Resilient Schools: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Resilient schools can warranty students’ health and survival at disasters. It is obligatory that schools be prepared for natural challenges through local programs. Considering the great population of students, disaster-resilient schools can be a safe and suitable environment for students at the time of disaster. Objective: This study aims to identify certain operational strategies for establishing schools resilient to natural disasters. Method: This qualitative study was based on conventional content analysis. Using purposive sampling method, 24 experts in the fields of health in disasters, construction engineering, psychology, teaching, and administrative management participated in the study. Maximum variation sampling continued until data saturation was achieved. The data collected via unstructured interviews were analyzed with Graneheim and Lundmen’s conventional content analysis. Results: Content analysis resulted in four main categories as operational strategies for establishing disaster-resilient schools including: 1) “construction and non-construction optimization”, with four subcategories of construct risk management, optimization of construct architecture and physical structure, correct construct localization, and promotion of non-construct safety, 2) “promotion of organizational coordination and interactions” with two subcategories, namely improvement  in intra-organizational communication and improvement  in extra-organizational communication, 3) “improvement  in education” with three subcategories of holding educational courses for families and students, holding educational courses for managers and personnel, and holding simulated exercises, and 4) “process promotion” with four subcategories of increased preparedness, correct planning, creation of organizational structure, and rehabilitation facilitation. Conclusion: Various factors affecting schools’ response to disasters form operational strategies to establish disaster-resilient schools. These strategies influence pre- and post-disaster preparedness. Awareness of these components followed by preparedness prior to disasters can save students’ lives, improve school performance after disasters, and aid in establishing disaster-resilient schools as safe lodgings

Exploring barriers and challenges in protecting residential fire - related injuries: a qualitative study

Background: Building fires can be a great threat to the safety of residents, and can lead to economic and social damage. Exploring the views of stakeholders is a great source for understanding the factors that affect fires. The purpose of this study was to explore stakeholders’ experiences of unintentional fire-related injuries in residential buildings in Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was carried out using grounded theory. The study was conducted in Iran, in 2017. The study participants consisted of 25 people including stakeholders who had practical experience/or were knowledgeable in the field of preventing and fighting building fires. Purposeful and theoretical sampling were used for data collection. Data were analyzed based on constant comparative analysis and according to recommendations by Strauss and Corbin. Results: "Lack of a comprehensive approach to prevention of fire-related injury" emerged as a core variable which impacted on residents' safety against fires. The findings were classified into four groups of challenges related to the structure of building, socio-economic challenge, residents of the building and rescue services. Conclusions: Based on participants` experiences, unintentional fire-related injuries in residential buildings are affected by cultural context and economic, social and geographical factors. Improving the safety against unintentional fire-related injuries in residential buildings requires multidisciplinary operations including both change and improvement of the building construction and change in the beliefs and practices of residents to increase safety against fires

Operational Strategies for Establishing Disaster-Resilient Schools: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Resilient schools can warranty students’ health and survival at disasters. It is obligatory that schools be prepared for natural challenges through local programs. Considering the great population of students, disaster-resilient schools can be a safe and suitable environment for students at the time of disaster. Objective: This study aims to identify certain operational strategies for establishing schools resilient to natural disasters. Method: This qualitative study was based on conventional content analysis. Using purposive sampling method, 24 experts in the fields of health in disasters, construction engineering, psychology, teaching, and administrative management participated in the study. Maximum variation sampling continued until data saturation was achieved. The data collected via unstructured interviews were analyzed with Graneheim and Lundmen’s conventional content analysis. Results: Content analysis resulted in four main categories as operational strategies for establishing disaster-resilient schools including: 1) “construction and non-construction optimization”, with four subcategories of construct risk management, optimization of construct architecture and physical structure, correct construct localization, and promotion of non-construct safety, 2) “promotion of organizational coordination and interactions” with two subcategories, namely improvement  in intra-organizational communication and improvement  in extra-organizational communication, 3) “improvement  in education” with three subcategories of holding educational courses for families and students, holding educational courses for managers and personnel, and holding simulated exercises, and 4) “process promotion” with four subcategories of increased preparedness, correct planning, creation of organizational structure, and rehabilitation facilitation. Conclusion: Various factors affecting schools’ response to disasters form operational strategies to establish disaster-resilient schools. These strategies influence pre- and post-disaster preparedness. Awareness of these components followed by preparedness prior to disasters can save students’ lives, improve school performance after disasters, and aid in establishing disaster-resilient schools as safe lodgings

Preventive measures for fire-related injuries and their risk factors in residential buildings: a systematic review

Abstract: Background: Every year, a large number of people lose their lives or become injured seriously as a result of fires. Fires in buildings pose a great threat to resident safety. The aim of this systematic review is to identify preventive measures for fire-related injuries in residential buildings, taking into account associated risk factors. Methods: In this study, a systematic review was performed of all studies conducted in the field of residential building fires, influencing factors and available safety procedures. From the earliest record up to 7 July 2017, databases of PubMed, Web of Science/Knowledge, and Scopus were searched and selected articles included in the study. Results: A total of 5,613 published articles were examined, of which 30 were finally found to meet the inclusion criteria. The findings of the study were included in two main groups of preventive measures and risk factors for residential building fires and related injuries. Regarding preventive measures, the factors to reduce the risk of fire-related injuries raised in the studies under review included rule amendments, changes and modification of the environment, behavior change such as emergency evacuation during fire occurrence, improvements to emergency medical services, and awareness-raising. Also, many of the studies showed that areas with a large number of young children, older people, people with physical and mental disabilities, alcohol and drug addicts, smokers, single-family households and low-income families were particularly at risk of fire-related injuries and deaths. Conclusions: There are features in residential buildings and attributes among residents that can be related to fire hazard and fire-related injuries and deaths. The most important point of this study is to focus on preventive strategies including environmental modification, promotion of safety rules and changes in risk behavior among residents. Policy makers should pay more attention to these important issues in order to promote safety and injury prevention in relation to building fires

Critique of the calculation of internships for professors in non-medical clinical disciplines

Letter to Edito

Requirements for nurse supervisor training: A qualitative content analysis

Background: Supervisors should have certain characteristics and adequate preparation for their roles. Yet, there are no well-educated experts knowing about the supervisor's role and responsibilities and how to train them. So, this research was conducted with the purpose of finding the factors affecting nursing supervisor training. Materials and Methods: This research is an inductive content analysis. Participants were 25 in number, consisting of nurses and supervisors in Shahid Sadoughi University hospitals. The participants were chosen by a purposive sampling method. Data collection was done by semi-structured interviews and reviewing documents. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Findings included two main themes: Firstly, establishment of a supervisory infrastructure that includes “making the appointments and retention of supervisors, clarifying the duties and authority of supervisor, developing supervisory culture, specializing supervision, and conducting practice-based training” and secondly, comprehensive supervisory competencies that include “acquiring scientific, managing, communicative, professional, ethical, pedagogical, and supporting adequacy.” Conclusions: Clinical supervisor has a major role in ensuring the quality of nursing care. This leads to improvements in patient care and nurses' personal and professional development. So, it is necessary that for effective supervision in nursing, first an infrastructure is provided for supervision and then the comprehensive competency of a supervisor is enhanced to apply effective supervision

The components of student\'s professional responsibilities in the process of clinical education: A scoping review

Background & Objective: Recognition of the professional role and responsibility is a key component in successfully playing professional roles. The present study aimed to recognition of the components of students' professional responsibilities in the process of clinical education. Materials & Methods: This is a scoping review study. This study searched, databases including Science Direct, Magiran, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar by keywords of professional responsibility, professional behavior, clinical education, and student. Results: 3821 articles were studied and monitored step by step and finally 44 articles were selected. The evaluation of articles based on content analysis was categorized into six categories and 33 subcategories. The six categories include educational tasks, patient care, communication skills and information exchange, personal development, professional development, and observing professionalism and ethics. Conclusion: In this study, the components and dimensions affecting the student's professional responsibilities in the education process were extracted. The results could be used in planning educational interventions to improve the professional responsibility of students in clinical education and also to the development of student assessment too

Clinical Supervision in Nursing Education: Definitions and Models

Introduction: Clinical supervision, as a mechanism for promoting knowledge and professional skills of nurses, is a core activity in nursing practice. To use clinical supervision in nursing education, it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of definitions and models. This paper explains the role and models of clinical supervision in nursing education. Methods: This study is a narrative review of the literature. It was conducted through Internet search in Pubmed and Science direct & Scopus. Using supervision nursing education, nursing administration, and supervisory as the key words, only English papers were searched for. Finally 47 articles, books and Persian article in the field of clinical supervision were reviewed. Results: Based on the literature review, clinical supervision is a continuous & systematic process through it nurses get advice from their supervisors. They practically review, maintain, and develop skills, knowledge, and standards of care. It helps to identify educational needs of nurses, which in turn, helps to understand the strengths and weaknesses of teaching and learning in order to promote purposeful learning in nurses. Conclusion: Findings show clinical supervision is a formal process. it has supportive and educational potential for nursing education. This can help last year nursing students and especially during the start-up work

Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus Reuteri (DSM 17938) on the Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Very Low Birth Weight Premature Infants

Background: Feeding intolerance is a common problem among premature infants. There is limited information on the safety and effects of oral probiotic supplements, especially products containing Lactobacillus reuteri, and the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in low birth weight preterm infants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri on the gastrointestinal complications and feeding tolerance in premature infants. Methods: This randomized triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on 60 premature infants divided into two groups of intervention and placebo. Subjects in the intervention group received one drop/kg of supplementary oral probiotic with 0.5 ml of distilled water, and infants in the placebo group only received 0.5 ml of distilled water. Probiotic administration continued to reach full enteral feeding. Results: In this study, mean time to reach full enteral feeding was 12.83 and 16.75 days in the intervention and placebo groups, respectively, which was indicative of a significant difference (P=0.01). However, mean of neonatal weight at discharge had no significant difference between the two groups. In addition, 6.7% and 36.7% of infants in the intervention and placebo groups were diagnosed with NEC, respectively, which showed a significant difference (P=0.005). Also, prevalence of jaundice and sepsis was not significantly different between the study groups. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, Lactobacillus reuteri could reduce the time to reach full enteral feeding while diminishing the incidence of NEC in very low birth weight premature infants