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Leadership and Use of Standards by Australian Disaster Medical Assistance Teams: Results of a National Survey of Team Members

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2012

Peter Aitken ,
Peter A. Leggat ,
Andrew G. Robertson ,
Hazel Harley ,
Richard Speare  and
Muriel G. Leclercq
Peter Aitken
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Peter A. Leggat*
Affiliation:
The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Andrew G. Robertson
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Hazel Harley
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia Consultant, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, and formerly Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Richard Speare
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Muriel G. Leclercq
Affiliation:
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
*
Correspondence: Peter A. Leggat, MD School of Public Health Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences James Cook University Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia E-mail [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

It is likely that calls for disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) will continue in response to international disasters.

Objective

As part of a national survey, the present study was designed to evaluate leadership issues and use of standards in Australian DMATs.

Methods

Data was collected via an anonymous mailed survey distributed via State and Territory representatives on the Australian Health Protection Committee, who identified team members associated with Australian DMAT deployments from the 2004 Asian Tsunami disaster.

Results

The response rate for this survey was estimated to be approximately 50% (59/118). Most of the personnel had deployed to the Asian Tsunami affected areas. The DMAT members were quite experienced, with 53% (31/59) of personnel in the 45-55 years of age group. Seventy-five percent (44/59) of the respondents were male. Fifty-eight percent (34/59) of the survey participants had significant experience in international disasters, although few felt they had previous experience in disaster management (5%, 3/59). There was unanimous support for a clear command structure (100%, 59/59), with strong support for leadership training for DMAT commanders (85%, 50/59). However only 34% (20/59) felt that their roles were clearly defined pre-deployment, and 59% (35/59) felt that team members could be identified easily. Leadership was identified by two team members as one of the biggest personal hardships faced during their deployment. While no respondents disagreed with the need for meaningful, evidence-based standards to be developed, only 51% (30/59) stated that indicators of effectiveness were used for the deployment.

Conclusions

In this study of Australian DMAT members, there was unanimous support for a clear command structure in future deployments, with clearly defined team roles and reporting structures. This should be supported by clear identification of team leaders to assist inter-agency coordination, and by leadership training for DMAT commanders. Members of Australian DMATs would also support the development and implementation of meaningful, evidence-based standards. More work is needed to identify or develop actual standards and the measures of effectiveness to be used, as well as the contents and nature of leadership training.

Aitken P, Leggat PA, Robertson AG, Harley H, Speare R, Leclercq MG. Leadership and use of standards by Australian disaster medical assistance teams: results of a national survey of team members. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):1-6.

Keywords

AustraliadisasterDisaster Medical Assistance TeamDMATleadershipmeasures of effectivenessmedical assistanceSoutheast Asiastandard
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 142 - 147
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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