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Major Incident Experience and Preparedness in a Developing Country

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2013

Hesam Seyedin ,
Rouhollah Zaboli  and
Hamid Ravaghi
Hesam Seyedin*
Affiliation:
Health Management and Economics Research Centre, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rouhollah Zaboli
Affiliation:
Health Management and Economics Research Centre, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Baqiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Hamid Ravaghi
Affiliation:
Health Management and Economics Research Centre, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Hesam Seyedin, PhD, Health Management and Economics Research Centre, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (e-mail hseyedin@tums.ac.ir; h.seyedin@gmail.com).
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Abstract

Background

Research shows that having previous experience of major incidents has a positive impact on awareness and preparedness of organizations. We investigated the effects of major incident experience on preparedness of health organizations on future disasters in Iran.

Methods

A qualitative study using a semistructured interview technique was conducted with 65 public health and therapeutic affairs managers. Analysis of the data was performed used the framework analysis technique, which was supported by qualitative research software.

Results

The study found that prior experience of major incidents results in better performance, coordination, and cooperation in response to future events. There was a positive effect on policy making and resource distribution and an increase in (1) preparedness activities, (2) raising population awareness, and (3) improving knowledge. However, the preparedness actions were predominantly individual-dependent.

Conclusions

Our findings showed that to increase system efficiency and effectiveness within health organizations, an appropriate major incident management system is needed. The new system can use lessons learned from previous major incidents to better equip health organizations to cope with similar events in the future. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:313-318)

Keywords

major incident managementmajor incident experiencepreparednessmitigationresponse
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , June 2013 , pp. 313 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013 

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