Open AccessANALYSIS OF THE SELF-ASSESSMENT OF HOSPITAL STAFF IN BULGARIA FOR THEIR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Author(s) -
Десислава Tодорова,
Rumyana Etova,
Tsvetelina Mihaylova
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
knowledge
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2545-4439
pISSN - 1857-923X
DOI - 10.35120/kij34041159t
Subject(s) - preparedness , capital city , disaster medicine , vulnerability (computing) , health care , medical emergency , medicine , emergency management , nursing , psychology , family medicine , suicide prevention , poison control , geography , political science , economic geography , computer security , computer science , law
The effectiveness of the medical activities carried out and the medical provision of the victims of disasters is directly dependent on the capabilities of the hospital staff. With good staff preparation, even in high-risk situations, the vulnerability of hospitals is reduced. Objective: Analysis of the self-assessment of hospital staff in Bulgaria for their disaster preparedness and assessment of preventive measures to reduce the adverse effects of disasters. Material and methods: sociological and statistical methods are used. During the period 2014-2019, an anonymous survey was conducted among the staff of hospitals in the capital and other cities in Bulgaria. The study involved 1,043 people in the 19–78 age range, working as persons performing administrative activities, doctors, health care professionals and other staff. Results: Almost all respondents expressed the opinion that a potential disaster would have an impact on the ability of hospitals to function and provide care for patients. The comparative analysis of the responses to the question of self-assessment of the hospital staff for their readiness to participate in the evacuation of the medical facility in emergency situations shows that the administrative staff significantly more often has indicated the answer "I'm somewhat prepared theoretically and practically, but I don't feel confident" (28.30%). The physicians most often indicated the answer "I have been prepared and participated in an emergency situation" (46.70%). In the other staff, the answer "unprepared" is most often indicated (65.0%), followed by a statistically equivalent frequency of "prepared only theoretically" and "I have been prepared and participated in an emergency situation". The study found a discrepancy between the expressed need for further updating of the knowledge of all staff groups and the frequency of the proposal to include specific training programs in the plans of medical institutions. Conclusions: Factors such as self-esteem and age influence the desire for training and initiative of the staff of the medical institutions. It is necessary to specify the forms to increase the readiness of medical institutions for emergency response.