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Attributes of Effective Disaster Responders: Focus Group Discussions With Key Emergency Response Leaders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Richard V. King ,
Carol S. North ,
Gregory L. Larkin ,
Dana L. Downs ,
Kelly R. Klein ,
Raymond L. Fowler ,
Raymond E. Swienton  and
Paul E. Pepe
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Abstract

Methods: An effective disaster response requires competent responders and leaders. The purpose of this study was to ask experts to identify attributes that distinguish effective from ineffective responders and leaders in a disaster. In this qualitative study, focus groups were held with jurisdictional medical directors for the 9-1-1 emergency medical services systems of the majority of the nation's largest cities. These sessions were recorded with audio equipment and later transcribed.

Results: The researchers identified themes within the transcriptions, created categories, and coded passages into these categories. Overall interrater reliability was excellent (κ = .8). The focus group transcripts yielded 138 codable passages. Ten categories were developed from analysis of the content: Incident Command System/Disaster Training/Experience, General Training/Experience, Teamwork/Interpersonal, Communication, Cognition, Problem Solving/Decision Making, Adaptable/Flexible, Calm/Cool, Character, and Performs Role. The contents of these categories included knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, and personal characteristics.

Conclusions: Experts in focus groups identified a variety of competencies for disaster responders and leaders. These competencies will require validation through further research that involves input from the disaster response community at large.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:332-338)

Keywords

competency-based educationdisaster medicinepublic health/emergency preparednesshealth personnel education/trainingconsensusdisaster responsecompetency-based educationemergencies
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 332 - 338
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2010

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