2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

330812
Is earthquake preparedness a generic achievement? Similarities and differences between preparedness of Canadian and Israeli hospital personnel


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Stav Shapira, PhD Candidate, Department of Emergency Medicine, Leon and Mathilde Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Limor Aharonson-Daniel, PhD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
Yaron Bar-Dayan, MD, MHA, bDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Leon and Mathilde Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Deanna Sykes, BN, School of Humanitarian studies, Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, Canada
Bruria Adini, PhD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) willingness to report to work (WTR) during a disaster is essential to implementing an efficient response. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this matter may contribute to reduced absenteeism in future disasters. Assessing preparedness and WTR in an earthquake scenario, in different social contexts and preparedness approaches (Canada and Israel) may shed light on the complexity of these issues.

Objectives: 1) To assess knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and WTR of HCW in Canada and Israel concerning earthquakes and 2) To evaluate the relationship between these factors and WTR.

Methods: A validated questionnaire including questions about demographic characteristics, knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and WTR in an earthquake scenario was distributed in two tertiary care hospitals located in risk regions, to a random sample of 131 Israeli and 381 Canadian HCW.

Results: Knowledge, perceptions of efficacy, as well as WTR were generally higher among Israeli HCWs. ‘Concern for family’s well-being’ and ‘professional commitment to care’ were reported by the largest proportion of HCW as factors that might influence WTR. Significant predictors of WTR amongst both Israeli and Canadian HCW were the belief that ‘colleagues will also report to work’ and ‘professional commitment’.

Conclusions: Significant differences were found in levels of knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and WTR in an earthquake scenario between Israeli and Canadian HCW. Social and professional solidarity seems to be cross-cultural factors that mitigate other potential barriers to WTR. This may help formulate new methods of improving hospital personnel preparedness to future events.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe and discuss factors associated with healthcare workers willingness to report to work during and after an earthquake event Compare the above in two different social contexts Formulate new ways to enhance preparedness and reduce adverse phenomena such as staff absenteeism

Keyword(s): Disasters, Emergency Preparedness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I head the PREPARED Center for Emergency Response Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. I contributed significantly to the academization of preparedness and response to disasters and lead the development of methods and instruments to facilitate studies on (1) injuries and (2) community resiliency. I have published extensively in peer reviewed journals and authored several book chapters about Injury Research Methods and on Disaster Preparedness Assessment.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4426.0: Healthcare Perspective on Disaster Response and Preparedness