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Results for “Preparedness”

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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Psychological determinants of financial preparedness for retirement.

PURPOSE: Economists predict that in the coming decades an unprecedented number of American baby boomers will enter retirement lacking adequate resources. The present investigation was designed to examine the factors that influence individuals' financial preparedness for retirement. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 230 participants each completed a multifaceted questionnaire on their own personal retirement planning practices. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to examine the relationships among individuals' personality characteristics, their financial knowledge, and financial preparedness. RESULTS: The adopted structural model revealed that both personality constructs and financial knowledge were significant predictors of pre-retirement planning. IMPLICATIONS: The findings from this study have important implications for how educational and marketing efforts should be developed for individuals who are differentially prone toward saving.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Emergency preparedness training for public health nurses: a pilot study.

The Columbia Center for Public Health Preparedness, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health, recently developed an emergency preparedness training program for public health workers. A pilot training program was conducted for a group of school health nurses and evaluated using a pre/posttest design. A surprising finding was that 90% of the nurses reported at least one barrier to their ability to report to duty in the event of a public health emergency. The most frequently cited barriers included child/elder care responsibilities, lack of transportation, and personal health issues. These findings suggest that it may be prudent to identify and address potential barriers to public health workforce responsiveness to ensure the availability of the workforce during emergencies.

Disaster Planning↗

PubMed1993

Emergency medical services preparedness for pediatric emergencies.

The study objective was to examine emergency medical services (EMS) equipment and training preparedness for pediatric emergencies in Oklahoma. The participants were 202 administrators of licensed EMS agencies in the state of Oklahoma. A mailed questionnaire was used to obtain data from EMS agencies regarding emergency ambulance run characteristics, medical control, equipment, and personnel training. There were 130 questionnaires returned (response rate, 64%). Overall, 4% of EMS emergency runs were for children under 12 years. Family medicine and emergency medicine were the most frequent specialties of medical directors. Fewer services allow personnel to perform endotracheal intubation on children (35 services) than on adults (45 services). Fewer services allow personnel to start intravenous lines on children (40 services) than on adults (47 services). Equipment for pediatric care routinely stocked on ambulances was tabulated. Most services provided intraagency continuing education, but only 71 (54%) included pediatric topics in continuing education. Deficiencies in equipment and training for pediatric emergencies are a common problem for EMS agencies in Oklahoma. Barriers to preparedness include: 1) relative infrequency of pediatric runs and difficulty with maintenance of technical skills, 2) costs associated with increased equipment and training, and 3) hesitancy to allow personnel to perform advanced life support procedures on children.

Ambulances↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Regional emergency preparedness efforts by local health departments in Western New York.

Public health agencies at all levels are now under increasing pressure to prepare for and respond to emerging natural and manmade threats to the health and wellness of those they serve. In particular, local health departments must be prepared to provide front-line defense and first response as threats of terrorism have become increasingly real. Success in meeting this monumental task will be highly dependent on funding as well as the availability of other resources. Although local health departments serving smaller counties may have fewer resources and receive less preparedness funding, they must still develop similar plans, surveillance systems, and response capabilities as local health departments serving larger counties (albeit on a smaller scale). Although local health departments serving larger counties may have more resources and receive more preparedness funding, they may face a greater chance of an intentional terrorist act and could benefit from support from local health departments serving smaller counties. Regional planning and response solutions to this challenge will allow partnerships of small and large local health departments to pool their resources and cooperatively provide more services with less duplication using whatever funding is available. This article describes that process as it is occurring in western New York among eight local county health departments.

Bioterrorism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Public health preparedness and response capacity inventory validity study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Practice Program Office has issued a Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacity Inventory to help state and local public health systems assess their progress towards achievement of the critical capacities and benchmarks specified in the federal Supplemental Funds for Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism. The criterion validity of the capacity inventory was assessed by comparing selected state and local agency responses with documentation provided by the agencies to corroborate their answers. Content validity assessment took the form of a mailed survey that also identified the most important questions from the perspective of a separate set of state and local officials. Responses generally upheld the validity of the capacity inventory, although circumstantial threats to validity were identified in the testing process. The instrument's use has been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by approximately half the states and over 800 local public health entities. An interactive electronic version includes a scoring mechanism that allows agencies to judge progress towards the critical capacities and benchmarks over time.

Bioterrorism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Critical issues in bioterrorism preparedness: before and after September 2001.

The Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Survey (BPRS) was a survey of Ohio local health departments' capacity to respond to bioterrorism. Soon after completion of the BPRS, the events of September 11 occurred, followed by the human cases of anthrax. The Ohio Response to Bioterrorism 2001 Survey (ORB) identified bioterrorism preparedness issues related to the suspected anthrax incidents. The BPRS measured capacity before September 11, 2001, and the ORB measured Ohio communities' response to white powder incidents. The BPRS and ORB provided independent and outcome measures related to the 2001-bioterrorism events. The significant bioterrorism response issues were: monitoring critical or unexplained deaths and clusters or symptoms; training on bioterrorism agents; integration of medical and criminal investigations of bioterrorism incidents; development of bioterrorism emergency response plans to include agencies to be contacted, management strategies for implementing mass vaccination, prophylaxis, treatment distribution and administration; and participation in a bioterrorism field or tabletop exercise. These results are confirmed and extended by studies by the US General Accounting Office, the Rand Corporation, Trust in the Future of America's Health foundation, and a follow-up survey of issues during a simulated covert smallpox attack.

Bioterrorism↗

PubMed2005

Responsive evaluation of competency-based public health preparedness training programs.

OBJECTIVES: To describe how the Michigan Center for Public Health Preparedness (MI-CPHP) responded to the challenge and urgency in delivering competency-based preparedness training and documenting its impact utilizing a responsive evaluation approach. METHODS: Pretest-posttest evaluation designs were implemented when feasible to document the impact of training activities on knowledge and competency gains. The development of evaluation instruments is described with a focus on being responsive to the specific goals of each training activity. A randomized experimental design was used to examine the effects of taking a pretest for one of the training events. RESULTS: The analyses noted statistically significant improvements for every comprehensive training event in key content knowledge and self-rated competencies. The impact of taking a pretest revealed a modest, but statistically significant, effect on the self-rated competencies and a nonsignificant effect on the content knowledge scores. CONCLUSIONS: A summary of the results and their implications is followed by a discussion about taking a responsive approach to evaluating the training activities of the MI-CPHP. The challenge of evaluating the impact of knowledge-focused training activities on the development of performance competencies was also reviewed.

Bioterrorism↗

PubMed2005

Assessment of public health workforce bioterrorism and emergency preparedness readiness among tribes in Washington State: a collaborative approach among the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, and the Washington State Department of Health.

This article examines the collaboration, methodology, results, and lessons learned stemming from the experience of a unique university, state, and tribal collaborative model for public health emergency preparedness assessment activities. This collaborative model may be applicable to other public health preparedness efforts, as well as the broader range of general public health or workforce development partnerships between state, local, and tribal health departments and academic institutions.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Development of an on-line bioterrorism preparedness course.

To reach a large audience of public health workers and others interested in learning more about bioterrorism and emergency preparedness, an on-line, Web-based, certificated course entitled "Terrorism, Preparedness and Public Health: An Introduction" was planned, developed, and implemented. Interactivity and other user-friendly devices helped it gain acceptance. To date (May 2005), more than 6,000 people from all 50 states and some foreign countries have registered for the course, and about 2,400 have passed an exam for a certificate of completion. We believe the success of this course is related to the strength and accuracy of the content and its historical perspective; to the quality of the technical development, including multiple levels of interactivity, ease of use, and a printed completion certificate; and to the use of real case studies and the lack of dramatic overstatement.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Partnership for preparedness: a model of academic public health.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health's National Center for Disaster Preparedness undertook a collaborative project to establish a model academic health department. The goals were to increase student participation at the health department, increase faculty participation in health department activities, and facilitate health department faculty appointments at the school. As a result, 17 students were placed in full-time summer research projects designed by health department staff specifically for the project, 154 health department staff attended a series of six lectures presented by faculty, and five health department professionals applied for academic appointments at the school. The benefits of the efforts toward establishing an academic health department extend to all areas of public health practice, including those of preparedness.

Cooperative Behavior↗

PubMed2006

Nuclear security and radiological preparedness for the olympic games, athens 2004: lessons learned for organizing major public events.

In light of the exceptional circumstances that arose from hosting the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and from recent terrorist events internationally, Greece attributes the highest priority to security issues. According to its statutory role, the Greek Atomic Energy Commission is responsible for emergency preparedness and response in case of nuclear and radiological events, and advises the Government on the measures and interventions necessary to protect the public. In this context, the Commission participated in the Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, and Chemical Threat National Emergency Plan, specially developed for the Olympic Games, and coordinated by the Olympic Games Security Division. The objective of this paper is to share the experience gained during the organization of the Olympic Games and to present the nuclear security program implemented prior to, during, and beyond the Games, in order to prevent, detect, assess, and respond to the threat of nuclear terrorism. This program adopted a multi-area coverage of nuclear security, including physical protection of nuclear and radiological facilities, prevention of smuggling of radioactive materials through borders, prevention of dispersion of these materials into the Olympic venues, enhancement of emergency preparedness and response to radiological events, upgrading of the technical infrastructure, establishment of new procedures for assessing the threat and responding to radiological incidents, and training personnel belonging to several organizations involved in the National Emergency Response Plan. Finally, the close cooperation of Greek Authorities with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, under the coordination of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission, is also discussed.

Civil Defense↗

PubMed2003

Terrorism preparedness training for nonclinical hospital workers: empowering them to take action.

While aspects of the national response to the last years' terrorist attacks have included preparedness training for health care institutions, much of the focus has been on clinician recognition of biologic exposures. However, many hospital workers have nonclinical responsibilities (such as housekeepers and mailroom workers) and many more, though active in clinical care, are para-professionals with limited medical training (such as nursing assistants). These workers are critical to the achievement of our institution's mission to provide competent and compassionate medical care, even during an emergency. In recognition of this, and to understand their attitudes and concerns, we conducted focus groups. The process provided a forum to receive immediate feedback from the workers, and will be used to design customized knowledge and skills training sessions that empower them to take proper responsive action should a terrorist attack occur. Our experience may be useful to others who are planning terrorism preparedness training programs.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2004

Terrorism-preparedness training for non-clinical hospital workers: tailoring content and presentation to meet workers' needs.

Clinicians have been the primary focus of health care worker training in response to the 2001 terrorist and anthrax attacks. However, many nonclinical hospital workers also are critical in providing medical care during any large-scale emergency. We designed a training program, guided by focus groups, to provide them with information to recognize unusual events and to protect themselves. We compared four different training methods: workbook, video, lecture, and a small-group discussion. One hundred and ninety-one workers participated. After the training, they were more confident in their employer's preparedness to respond to a terrorist attack but specific knowledge did not change substantially. Fortunately, the self-directed workbook (the more economical and least disruptive method) was as effective as the other methods. Our experience may be useful to others who are planning terrorism-preparedness training programs.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Preparedness of selected pediatric offices to respond to critical emergencies in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the preparedness of pediatric offices that had activated emergency medical services (EMS) for a critically ill child requiring airway management. METHODS: Fifteen patients who initially presented to pediatric or family practice offices but required EMS activation and cardiac and/or respiratory support were identified from a previous prospective study of airway management in children. Two to 4 years after the emergency requiring EMS activation, the offices were contacted to complete a written survey about office preparedness for pediatric emergencies. RESULTS: Eight of 15 offices (53%) returned a survey. Pediatricians staffed all responding offices, and all offices were within 5 miles of an emergency department. Airway emergencies were the most common emergencies seen in the offices. Availability of emergency equipment and medications varied. All offices stocked albuterol, and most (7/8) had an oxygen source with a flowmeter. However, only half of the offices had a fast-acting anticonvulsant, and a quarter had no anticonvulsant. Three offices lacked bag-mask (manual) resuscitators with all appropriate sized masks, and 3 offices lacked suction. The most common reasons cited for not stocking all emergency equipment and drugs were quick response time of EMS and proximity to an emergency department. CONCLUSIONS: Even after treating a critically ill child who required advanced cardiac and/or pulmonary support, offices were ill prepared to handle another serious pediatric illness or injury.

Airway Obstruction↗

PubMed2001

Disaster mitigation and preparedness on the Nicaraguan post-Mitch agenda.

Nicaragua provides an example of how a major disaster, in this case Hurricane Mitch, can transform the national agenda for disaster mitigation and preparedness. Hurricane Mitch was a reminder of how extremely disaster prone Nicaragua is, and also how neoliberal reforms have weakened governmental response capacity. In the face of critiques of how governmental policies had affected preparedness and response, discussions of this transformation became a highly politicised process where the debate over alternative development models tended to overshadow the original calls to strengthen risk management. Progress can be seen in some areas, such as disaster mitigation through environmental management. This study of NGO roles, and their relations with other key actors, draws attention to the need to anchor improved risk management in local-level NGO-government collaboration. Structures are being put into place to achieve this aim, but dependence on donor financing raises questions regarding the longer-term sustainability of these efforts.

Community Participation↗

PubMed2002

Earthquake drills and simulations in community-based training and preparedness programmes.

The San Francisco, California, bay area is subject to continuous seismic risk. One particular response has been the development of community-based training programmes designed to teach residents basic emergency response skills. Citizens are taught emergency medical techniques, search and rescue, fire suppression and other fundamental response skills. Current estimates in the Bay Area place the number of programmes at more than 100. Many programmes now include an annual community drill to reinforce the training and to evaluate the programme. The study described here is based on an evaluation of an effort initiated by BayNET (Bay Area Neighborhood Emergency Training), a voluntary association of communities with community-based disaster preparedness programmes. In April 1996, BayNET asked all of its members to hold a community earthquake drill. After the drill, a mail survey was conducted of all programme managers. The survey examined the structure and administration of the programmes, training efforts and other related components. This paper describes the typology of drill formats that communities used, the role of the simulation in the city's preparedness efforts, the qualitative costs and benefits, as well as an assessment of the drill based on survey respondents.

Community Participation↗

PubMed2004

"We all knew that a cyclone was coming": disaster preparedness and the cyclone of 1999 in Orissa, India.

Imagine that a cyclone is coming, but that those living in the affected areas do nothing or too little to protect themselves. This is precisely what happened in the coastal state of Orissa, India. Individuals and communities living in regions where natural hazards are a part of daily life develop strategies to cope with and adapt to the impacts of extreme events. In October 1999, a cyclone killed 10,000 people according to government statistics, however, the unofficial death toll is much higher. This article examines why such a large loss of life occurred and looks at measures taken since then to initiate comprehensive disaster-preparedness programmes and to construct more cyclone shelters. The role of both governmental organisations and NGOs in this is critically analysed. The good news is that, based on an assessment of disaster preparedness during a small cyclone in November 2002, it can be seen that at community-level awareness was high and that many of the lessons learnt in 1999 were put into practice. Less positive, however, is the finding that at the state level collaboration continues to be problematic.

Community Health Services↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Emergency preparedness and bioterrorism response: development of an educational program for public health personnel.

Public health departments are under increasing pressure to provide emergency preparedness and bioterrorism response education to public health personnel. The challenge that health departments face is to provide cost-efficient, timely education to a large number of multidisciplinary personnel. This article describes an innovative strategy for providing this education to public health personnel using the health department's intranet system. The intranet system provided confidential information specific to the staff role and allowed for concurrent access to the program by multiple individuals at different service sites. Knowledge acquisition was tested through short multiple-choice questions that followed the specific information modules. The intranet system faced a number of challenges during the pilot-testing phase, primarily related to changes in the role of the public health nurse and limitations in funding and public health staff to maintain and monitor the bioterrorism response program and the intranet system. The design of the program may prove useful for other public health organizations when a need exists for quick delivery of information to a large number of personnel. It may especially be useful in providing basic emergency preparedness and bioterrorism education to new personnel in health departments.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗