Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T03:26:51.275Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors Associated with Willingness to Respond to a Disaster: A Study of Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2011

Rita V. Burke ,
Catherine J. Goodhue ,
Nikunj K. Chokshi  and
Jeffrey S. Upperman
Rita V. Burke
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA
Catherine J. Goodhue
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA
Nikunj K. Chokshi
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA
Jeffrey S. Upperman
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction: Due to recent disasters, disaster planners increasingly are focusing on healthcare worker preparedness and response in the event of a disaster. In this study, factors associated with pediatric healthcare workers’ willingness to respond are identified.

Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that personal factors may affect a pediatric healthcare worker’s willingness to respond to work in the event of a disaster.

Methods: Employees of a tertiary, pediatric care hospital in Los Angeles were asked to complete a brief, 24-question online survey to determine their willingness to respond in the event of a disaster. Information on demographics, employment, disaster-related training, personal preparedness, and necessary resources was collected. A logistic regression model was performed to derive adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results: Eight hundred seventy-seven pediatric healthcare employees completed the survey (22% response rate). Almost 50% (n = 318) expressed willingness to respond in the event of a disaster. Men were more likely to be willing to respond to a disaster than were women (OR = 2.4; 95%CI = 1.6–3.6), and single/divorced/widowed employees were more willing to respond than married or partnered employees (OR = 1.5; 95%CI = 1.1–2.1). An inverse relationship was observed between number of dependents and willingness to respond (OR = 0.45; 95%CI = 0.25–0.80, ≥3 dependents compared to 0). An inverse dose response relationship between commuting distance and number of necessary resources (ptrend = 0.0485 and 0.0001, respectively) was observed. There was no association between previous disaster experience, disaster training, or personal preparedness and willingness to respond.

Conclusions: Number of dependents and resources were major factors in willingness to respond. Healthcare facilities must clearly communicate their disaster plans as well as any provisions they may make for their employees’ families in order to improve willingness among hospital employees.

Keywords

healthcare personnelpediatricstertiary hospitalwillingness to respond
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , August 2011 , pp. 244 - 250
Copyright
Copyright Burke © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bissell, RA, Pinet, L, Nelson, M, Levy, M: Evidence of the effectiveness of health sector preparedness in disaster response: The example of four earthquakes. Fam Community Health 2004;27(3):193–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diekman, ST, Kearney, SP, O’Neil, ME, Mack, KA: Qualitative study of homeowners’ emergency preparedness: Experiences, perceptions, and practices. Prehosp Disaster Med 2007;22(6):494–501.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eisenman, DP, Wold, C, Fielding, J, et al: Differences in individual-level terrorism preparedness in Los Angeles County. Am J Prev Med 2006;30(1):1–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Los Angeles County Department of Health: How Prepared Are Los Angeles County Residents for an Emergency? Los Angeles; 2007.Google Scholar
Joint Commission on Accredidation of Healthcare Organizations: Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals: The Offical Handbook. Oakbrook Terrace: Joint Commission Resources; 2003.Google Scholar
Qureshi, K, Gershon, RR, Sherman, MF, et al: Health care workers’ ability and willingness to report to duty during catastrophic disasters. J Urban Health 2005;82(3):378–388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blessman, J, Skupski, J, Jamil, M, et al: Barriers to at-home-preparedness in public health employees: Implications for disaster preparedness training. J Occup Environ Med 2007;49(3):318–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Graham, J, Shirm, S, Liggin, R, Aitken, ME, Dick, R: Mass-casualty events at schools: A national preparedness survey. Pediatrics 2006;117(1):e8–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chokshi, NK, Behar, S, Nager, AL, Dorey, F, Upperman, JS: Disaster management among pediatric surgeons: Preparedness, training and involvement. Am J Disaster Med 2008;3(1):5–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Qureshi, KA, Merrill, JA, Gershon, RR, Calero-Breckheimer, A: Emergency preparedness training for public health nurses: A pilot study. J Urban Health 2002;79(3):413–416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martens, KA, Hantsch, CE, Stake, CE: Emergency preparedness survey: Personnel availability and support needs. Ann Emerg Med 2003;42(4 Suppl):s105.Google Scholar
Masterson, L, Steffen, C, Brin, M, Kordick, MF, Christos, S: Willingness to respond: of emergency department personnel and their predicted participation in mass casualty terrorist events. J Emerg Med 2009;36(1):43–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Irvin, CB, Cindrich, L, Patterson, W, Southall, A: Survey of hospital healthcare personnel response during a potential avian influenza pandemic: Will they come to work? Prehosp Disaster Med 2008;23(4):328–335.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shapira, Y, Marganitt, B, Roziner, I, Shochet, T, Bar, Y, Shemer, J: Willingness of staff to report to their hospital duties following an unconventional missile attack: A state-wide survey. Isr J Med Sci 1991;27(11–12):704–711.Google ScholarPubMed
Banks, LL, Shah, MB, Richards, ME: Effective healthcare system response to consecutive Florida hurricanes. Am J Disaster Med 2007;2(6):285–295.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dalton, CB, Durrheim, DN, Conroy, MA: Likely impact of school and childcare closures on public health workforce during an influenza pandemic: A survey. Commun Dis Intell 2008;32(2):261–262.Google ScholarPubMed
Young, CF, Persell, DJ: Biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorism readiness: major concerns and preparedness of future nurses. Disaster Manag Response 2004;2(4):109–114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ehrenstein, BP, Hanses, F, Salzberger, B: Influenza pandemic and professional duty: family or patients first? A survey of hospital employees. BMC Public Health 2006;6:311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Syrett, JI, Benitez, JG, Livingston, WH, 3rd, Davis, EA: Will emergency health care providers respond to mass casualty incidents? Prehosp Emerg Care 2007;11(1):49–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maripolsky, V: In disaster’s aftermath, don’t forget the needs of employees. Patient Care Manag 2002;17(7):5–8.Google ScholarPubMed
Thomas, J, Lackey, N: How to evacuate a psychiatric hospital: A Hurricane Katrina success story. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 2008;46(1):35–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Katz, AR, Nekorchuk, DM, Holck, PS, Hendrickson, LA, Imrie, AA, Effler, PV: Hawaii physician and nurse bioterrorism preparedness survey. Prehosp Disaster Med 2006;21(6):404–413.Google ScholarPubMed
Chen, FM, Hickner, J, Fink, KS, Galliher, JM, Burstin, H: On the front lines: Family physicians’ preparedness for bioterrorism. J Fam Pract 2002;51(9):745–750.Google ScholarPubMed
Blumenthal, D, Gokhale, M, Campbell, EG, Weissman, JS: Preparedness for clinical practice: reports of graduating residents at academic health centers. JAMA 2001;286(9):1027–1034.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alexander, GC, Wynia, MK: Ready and willing? Physicians’ sense of preparedness for bioterrorism. Health Aff (Millwood) 2003;22(5):189–97.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eysenbach, G, Wyatt, J: Using the Internet for surveys and health research. J Med Internet Res 2002;4(2):E13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Everett, WW, Zaoutis, TL, Halpern, SD, Strom, BL, Coffin, SE: Preevent vaccination against smallpox: a survey of pediatric emergency health care providers. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2004;23(4):332–337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vestbo, J, Rasmussen, FV: Baseline characteristics are not sufficient indicators of non-response bias follow up studies. J Epidemiol Community Health 1992;46(6):617–619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhodes, SD, Bowie, DA, Hergenrather, KC: Collecting behavioural data using the world wide web: considerations for researchers. J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57(1):68–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed