Optimal Evidence in Difficult Settings: Improving Health Interventions and Decision Making in Disasters

Martin, Guillaume; Clarke, Mike; Allen, Claire; Kayabu, Bonnix; Summerskill, William; Devane, Declan; MacLachlan, Malcolm; Spiegel, Paul; Ghosh, Anjan; Zachariah, Rony; Gupta, Saurabh; Barbour, Virginia; Murray, Virginia; Schreeb, Johan von

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001632

Cited by 40 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…16 30–32 Scaling up with diabetes and hypertension specialists and psychologists is recommended 68 12 26 27 34 35 In our experience, it is much easier to recruit volunteers for the initial emergency part.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most focus on communicable diseases (vector-borne, airborne, foodborne, blood borne and waterborne diseases and infections) such as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, or elucidate immediate effects of disasters (estimated numbers of dead, injured and displaced) and late consequences such as outbreaks, epidemics and mental health problems 6–10. As in every refugee or internally displaced persons camp around the world—usually in third world countries—specific patterns of pathology are to be expected (especially respiratory, gastrointestinal and skin infections), secondary to poor sanitary conditions and overcrowding, as well as increase of non-communicable diseases (malnutrition, cancer, chronic lung diseases) and comorbidities (especially diabetes and hypertension) imposing vulnerability due to interruption of care, and psychosocial disorders following violence, journeys in austere circumstances, and the settlement in a new, sometimes hostile environment 8…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A refugee camp in the centre of Europe: clinical characteristics of asylum seekers arriving in Brussels

et al. 2016

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BackgroundIn the summer of 2015, the exodus of Syrian war refugees and saturation of refugee camps in neighbouring countries led to the influx of asylum-seekers in European countries, including Belgium. This study aims to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of asylum seekers who arrived in a huddled refugee camp, in the centre of a well-developed country with all medical facilities.MethodsUsing a descriptive cross-sectional study design, physicians of Médecins du Monde prospectively registered age, gender, origin, medical symptoms and diagnoses of all patients presenting to an erected field hospital in Brussels in September 2015. Diagnoses were post hoc categorised according to the International Classification of Diseases.ResultsOf 4037 patients examined in the field hospital, 3907 were included and analysed for this study. Over 11% of patients suffered from injuries, but these were outnumbered by the proportion of patients with respiratory (36%), dental (9%), skin (9%) and digestive (8%) diagnoses. More than 49% had features of infections at the time of the consultation.ConclusionsAsylum seekers arriving in a refugee camp in Brussels after a long and hazardous journey suffer mostly from respiratory, dental, skin and digestive diseases. Still, one in seven suffers from injury. These findings, consistent with other reports, should be anticipated when composing emergency medical teams and interagency emergency health or similar kits to be used in a field hospital, even in a Western European country.Trial registration numberISRCTN13523620, Results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A refugee camp in the centre of Europe: clinical characteristics of asylum seekers arriving in Brussels

et al. 2016

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“…Health effects from natural disasters depend on several factors, among them geographic, economic, and pre-disaster health situations as well as the disaster response [1]. In this study, a biopsychosocial perspective on health [2] was used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health among disaster survivors and health professionals after the Haiyan Typhoon: a self-selected Internet-based web survey

et al. 2017

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BackgroundNatural disasters affected millions of people worldwide every year. Evaluation of disaster health and health response interventions is faced with several methodological challenges. This study aimed (1) to describe survivors’ and health professionals’ health, 30 months after a natural disaster using a web-based self-selected Internet sample survey designed and (2) to evaluate the health effects of disaster response interventions, in the present study with a focus on disaster radio.MethodsA web-based survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional study approximately 30 months after typhoon Haiyan. The GHQ-12, EQ-5D-3L, and EQ-VAS instruments were used in addition to study-specific questions. A self-selected Internet sample was recruited via Facebook.ResultsIn total, 443 survivors, from what 73 were health professionals, participated in the study. The Haiyan typhoon caused both physical and mental health problems as well as social consequences for the survivors. Mental health problems were more frequently reported than physical injuries. Health professionals reported worse overall health and a higher frequency of mental health problems compared to other survivors.ConclusionsThere were short-term and long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences for the survivors as a result of the Haiyan typhoon. Mental health problems were more frequently reported and lasted longer than physical problems. Health professionals deployed during the disaster reported worse health, especially concerning mental health problems. The survey used was found useful to describe health after disasters.

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“…In its application, disaster management attempts severely lack an established network to coordinate the flow of information, activities, and resources, thus the need for activities and resources networks (action plans). The identified limitations of the network that are in need of immediate improvements are: [10] lack of integration, supervision and regular evaluation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Software Dedicated to Training Students and Professionals About Medical Information System for Disaster Risk Reduction

Sabarguna¹,

Ibrahim²

2017

Advanced Science and Technology Letters

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Abstract. Objectives are to develop software as an original of Medical Information System for Disaster Risk Reduction consisting of 3 software modules on Disaster Preparedness, Early Warning System, and Disaster Event Management. These software is usefulness to complement the existing facilities already in place, for training students and professionals of hospitals. The development was carried out in a number of stages, namely software development, review, beta testing, and application to ensure the software's application suitability, as evaluated by lecturers, doctors, programmers, and students alike. The Software was successfully developed as a new Integrated of Medical Information System in Disaster Reduction and beta testing has been carried out by programmers, doctors, and lecturers from Disaster Medical discipline. The software appeared to be in running order and functional but also deemed to need further field test runs by officers facing real-life disaster events. Conclusions and Recommendations, is a Medical Information System for Disaster Risk Reduction has been developed and consists of 3 software modules for Training students and professional. Further implementation tests on actual events of disasters are recommended.

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Optimal Evidence in Difficult Settings: Improving Health Interventions and Decision Making in Disasters

Abstract: Martin Gerdin and colleagues argue that disaster health interventions and decision-making can benefit from an evidence-based approach Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

Cited by 40 publications

References 22 publications

A refugee camp in the centre of Europe: clinical characteristics of asylum seekers arriving in Brussels

A refugee camp in the centre of Europe: clinical characteristics of asylum seekers arriving in Brussels

Health among disaster survivors and health professionals after the Haiyan Typhoon: a self-selected Internet-based web survey

Software Dedicated to Training Students and Professionals About Medical Information System for Disaster Risk Reduction

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