To estimate COVID-19 vaccine intention, uptake, and hesitancy among essential workers.

A cross-sectional survey of USDA-certified organic producers. An electronic survey was used for data collection. Analyses included descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and ordinal logistic regressions.

The dataset consisted of 273 records. While 63% of respondents had received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine, only 17% had the recommended minimum of 2 doses. More than two-thirds of unvaccinated individuals indicated no plan to receive the vaccine, and limited perception of vaccine necessity. They indicated concerns about side effects and a distrust of the vaccines and the government. Age, education level, acreage, region, and health insurance status were variables significantly associated with the number of doses of vaccine received.

Interventions to encourage vaccination may target farmers who are less educated, live alone or just with one other person, lack health insurance, and run larger farms. Results also suggest focusing on enhancing trust in science and the government. Theory-based approaches that address low perception of risk and severity may be more likely to be effective with this population. Information on how US organic producers handled the COVID-19 pandemic is critical for emergency preparedness and food system stability.

Earthquakes cause great destruction due to their suddenness and intensity. Although all people are affected by earthquakes, children are among those most affected. Every year, millions of children and young people are exposed to many natural disasters and are affected differently. Earthquakes can cause physical, mental, and sleep disorders in children. The aim of this study is to investigate the post-traumatic response and its effects on sleep on child and adolescent earthquake survivors living in the earthquake zone in Turkey.

This research was carried out between June and August 2023 as a descriptive and cross-sectional study. A total of 230 earthquake survivor children from Adıyaman were included in the study. Personal information forms, the Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI), and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) were used to collect data.

It was determined that the scale scores of the children who were financially affected by the earthquake, who were injured, and who were under the rubble were higher (P < 0.05).

It was observed that more than half of the children had severe trauma and had sleep disorders. Children who experience trauma from an earthquake have more sleep disorders. For this reason, in addition to emergency aid and interventions in earthquakes, arrangements should be made for the mental health of children and social and psychological support should be provided.

This study aimed to develop and validate the modified irritant gas syndrome agent (IGSA) criteria, utilizing readily available triage information and epidemiologic data to efficiently segregate patients based on the severity of hydrofluoric acid (HFA) exposure.

A retrospective analysis of 160 patients exposed to HFA was performed to develop the criteria and assess the criteria’s efficacy, focusing on age, respiratory rate, and compliance with IGSA standards. The criteria’s validity was assessed by comparing clinical outcomes between patients meeting the modified IGSA (mIGSA) criteria and those who did not as external and internal.

The mIGSA criteria (or AIR criteria) consisting of the 3 clusters of age greater than 49, IGSA criteria satisfied, and respiratory rate greater than 19 was developed. The area under curve of receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction of the risk of confirmed HFA injury according to AIR criteria was 0.8415 at the external validation.

The mIGSA criteria offer a significant improvement in the triage of HFA exposure incidents, facilitating rapid identification and prioritization of patients with potentially severe outcomes. Future research should aim to further validate these criteria across diverse emergency scenarios, reinforcing their utility in global health emergency preparedness.

This study aimed to understand the current landscape of USA-based disaster medicine (DM) programs through the lens of alumni and program directors (PDs). The data obtained from this study will provide valuable information to future learners as they ponder careers in disaster medicine and allow PDs to refine curricular offerings.

Two separate surveys were sent to USA-based DM program directors and alumni. The surveys gathered information regarding current training characteristics, career trajectories, and the outlook of DM training.

The study had a 57% response rate among PDs, and 42% response rate from alumni. Most programs are 1-year and accept 1-2 fellows per class. More than 60% of the programs offer additional advanced degrees. Half of the respondents accept international medical graduates (IMGs). Only 25% accept non-MD/DO/MBBs trained applicants. Most of the alumni hold academic and governmental positions post-training. Furthermore, many alumni report that fellowship training offered an advantage in the job market and allowed them to expand their clinical practice.

The field of disaster medicine is continuously evolving owing to the increased recognition of the important roles DM specialists play in healthcare. The fellowship training programs are experiencing a similar evolution with an increasing trend toward standardization. Furthermore, graduates from these programs see their training as a worthwhile investment in career opportunities.

To investigate the demographic determinants influencing nursing students’ intentions to volunteer during health emergencies in India, providing insights that can inform policy and educational interventions to enhance their engagement and effectiveness in crisis situations.

A comprehensive cross-sectional survey was conducted among final-year nursing students, utilizing an online self-administered questionnaire developed through an extensive review of existing literature. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software tool.

Four hundred nursing students participated in the study. The analysis showed that age, marital status, location, family income, educational program, and district strongly influence volunteer inclinations. Although they face challenges, nursing students’ desire to help during emergencies shows their dedication and importance within health care. Strategic assistance, flexible training, and recognition can increase volunteerism. Giving nursing students resources and support makes them confident, equipped, and motivated to respond to emergencies, improving community resilience and emergency health care.

This study enhances our understanding of demographic influences on volunteerism and informs strategies to foster a more robust and willing nursing workforce in India for future health emergencies. Future research should focus on understanding psychological factors in other states of India.

This study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) of earthquake survivors who experienced 2 major earthquakes in Türkiye on February 6, 2023, with different measurement tools.

The study was conducted in 2 centers with a total of 467 participants. For QoL measurement, face-to-face Euroqol EQ-5D-5L, Euroqol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS), and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) measurement tools were used.

On the EQ-5D-5L scale, most of the participants stated that they struggled the most with the anxiety/Depression dimension. In NHP, the highest mean score is in the Emotional Reaction section. Females and the 55+ age group were found to have worse QoL. A linear and moderate correlation was found between the EQ-5D-5L index value and the EQ-VAS score; an inverse, weak, or moderate correlation was found between the EQ-VAS score and the sections of the NHP scores; an inverse and strong correlation was found between the Nottingham Health Profile Distress (NHP-D) score and the EQ-5D-5L index value.

The findings obtained with the measurement tools used in this study reveal various dimensions affecting the QoL of different cohorts. In addition, the study provides important evidence for policies to be developed to increase post-earthquake QoL.

The knowledge of students’ quality of life and post-traumatic stress disorder levels, investigation of the relationship between them, and taking measures are essential in terms of guiding the necessary interventions. This study was conducted to determine the quality of life and post-traumatic stress disorder levels of midwifery students experiencing an earthquake.

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 363 midwifery students who had experienced the Kahramanmaras, Türkiye earthquake. Data were obtained using a Descriptive Information Form, the PTSD-Brief Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF).

The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder in the sample studied (n = 363), which consisted of midwifery students who would work in the field of health, was 21.5% 2 months after the earthquake. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that factors predicting post-traumatic stress disorder following the earthquake were quality of life score related to physical and environmental domains, damage status of the house, presence of family history of depression, and smoking status.

This study, which was conducted 2 months following the earthquakes, showed that living spaces had an impact on the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

This methodological study aimed to adapt the DLS, introduced for individuals aged 18-60 years, to those aged 60 years and older and to determine its psychometric properties.

We collected the data between December 15, 2021 and April 18, 2022. We carried out the study with a sample of 60 years and older living in the city center of Burdur, Turkey. The sample was selected using snowball sampling, a non-probability sampling technique. We collected the data using a questionnaire booklet covering an 11-item demographic information form and the DLS. We utilized reliability and validity analyses in the data analysis. The analyses were performed on SPSS 23.0, and a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean age of the participants was found to be 68.29 (SD = 6.36). The 61-item measurement tool was reduced to 57 items by removing a total of 4 items from the scale. We also calculated Cronbach’s α values to be 0.936 for the mitigation/prevention subscale, 0.935 for the preparedness subscale, 0.939 for the response subscale, and 0.945 for the recovery/rehabilitation subscale.

As adapted in this study, the DLS-S can be validly and reliably used for individuals aged 60 years and older.

In the context of the Omicron-induced lockdown in Shanghai, this paper investigated the appeals for assistance by citizens on Weibo, aiming to understand their principal challenges and immediate needs.

This paper collected Weibo posts (N = 1040) containing the keyword “Shanghai Anti-epidemic Help” during the citywide lockdown. The online help requests from Shanghai citizens were analyzed across 7 dimensions, including the help sought, level of urgency, help recipient, the intended beneficiary of the help, expression, position, and emotion.

The study found that the most common requests for assistance were related to social isolation, specifically in the areas of home and community (34.81%), isolation (10.86%), and personal freedom (7.31%). Of all help requests, 11.83% were deemed very urgent. Most of the Weibo posts sent out a plea for help to Internet users (56.06%), primarily requesting help for themselves (26.25%) or their families (27.60%).

The study found that personal freedom, food, and medical care were the most frequently sought help from the public, and most of the public’s positions and emotions were pessimistic. The relevant findings revealed the public’s needs and status during the city closure, providing a reference for emergency preparedness in public health events or emergencies.

On July 28, 2022, eastern Kentucky experienced the state’s deadliest flood in recorded history. In response to ongoing mental health concerns from community members who survived the flood, local health department directors in affected communities requested technical assistance from the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two simultaneous Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) were conducted 6 weeks after the flood. Four counties were assessed in each CASPER. EpiInfo7 was used to calculate the unweighted and weighted frequencies and percentages to estimate the number and percentage of households with a particular response in each CASPER.

Approximately a third (30.5%) of households in CASPER 1 and approximately 40% of households in CASPER 2 reported experiencing ≥1 mental health problems. Individual-level mental health questions from a modified 3-stage CASPER found approximately 15% of persons in both CASPERs reported a Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) score ≥3 and approximately 20% of persons in both CASPERs reported Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) score ≥3.

These findings indicated households experienced mental health problems after the flood. Depression and anxiety were prevalent among persons living in flood-affected areas. If ever needed, households preferred to receive mental health services in-person and locally.

The objective of this study was to develop a self-report scale for the assessment of the competence of pre-hospital health professionals in responding to radiological incidents.

Based on the findings of a systematic review analyzing the literature, the instrument followed the processes of item generation, expert opinion, language control, pilot study, and field testing.

In the exploratory factor analysis, 48 items were excluded on the grounds of insufficient common variance (>0.40) and factor loading relationship (>0.50). The remaining 18 items (11 negative and 7 positive items) exhibited a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.913 and a range of 0.740 to 0.887 in the sub-factors. As the scores on the developed scale increased, there was a corresponding increase in the perceived adequacy of the interventions.

The objective, scope, constraints and stages of the scale’s design and development were elucidated in comprehensive detail, and its intelligibility to other societies was ensured. The scale was developed as a self-report scale that can evaluate the competence of prehospital health professionals in radiological incidents.

Mpox, a zoonotic disease, has emerged as a significant international public health concern due to an increase in the number of cases diagnosed in non-endemic countries. To support public health response efforts to interrupt Mpox transmission in the community, this study aims to identify epidemiological and clinical aspects of Mpox in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The study collected Mpox data from the Provincial Health Department in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 2023 to February 2024. This included the symptom characteristics and demographics of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed and PCR-negative Mpox cases, which were then compared using the χ2 test.

Of the PCR-confirmed total of 58 Mpox cases, most were males (96.6%, 56/58). Of these, 67.2% (39/58) reported recent sexual activity within the 21 days prior to the disease onset date, with 41.4% (24/58) reporting only 1 sexual partner during that period. Among PCR-confirmed Mpox cases, common symptoms included fever (81.1%, 47/58), rash (63.8%, 37/58), and lesions (93.1%, 54/58).

The predominance of male Mpox cases indicates transmission within men who have sex with men (MSM) networks, while higher prevalence among individuals with HIV or syphilis is due to shared behaviors, highlighting the need for surveillance, contact tracing, and targeted public health interventions.

This systematic literature review explores the applications of social network platforms for disaster health care management and resiliency and investigates their potential to enhance decision-making and policy formulation for public health authorities during such events.

A comprehensive search across academic databases yielded 90 relevant studies. Utilizing qualitative and thematic analysis, the study identified the primary applications of social network data analytics during disasters, organizing them into 5 key themes: communication, information extraction, disaster Management, Situational Awareness, and Location Identification.

The findings highlight the potential of social networks as an additional tool to enhance decision-making and policymaking for public health authorities in disaster settings, providing a foundation for further research and innovative approaches in this field.

However, analyzing social network data has significant challenges due to the massive volume of information generated and the prevalence of misinformation. Moreover, it is important to point out that social network users do not represent individuals without access to technology, such as some elderly populations. Therefore, relying solely on social network data analytics is insufficient for effective disaster health care management. To ensure efficient disaster management and control, it is necessary to explore alternative sources of information and consider a comprehensive approach.

Given the US population concentration near coastal areas and increased flooding due to climate change, public health professionals must recognize the psychological burden resulting from exposure to natural hazards.

We performed a systematic search of databases to identify articles with a clearly defined comparison group consisting of either pre-exposure measurements in a disaster-exposed population or disaster-unexposed controls, and assessment of mental health, including but not limited to, depression, post-traumatic stress (PTS), and anxiety.

Twenty-five studies, with a combined total of n =616 657 people were included in a systematic review, and 11 studies with a total of 2012 people were included in a meta-analysis of 3 mental health outcomes. Meta-analytic findings included a positive association between disaster exposure and PTS (n = 5, g = 0.44, 95% CI 0.04, 0.85), as well as depression (n = 9, g = 0.28, 95% CI 0.04, 0.53), and no meaningful effect size in studies assessing anxiety (n = 6, g = 0.05 95% CI −0.30, 0.19).

Hurricanes and flooding were consistently associated with increased depression and PTS in studies with comparison groups representing individuals unaffected by hazards.

Fires are among the most feared incidents that can occur in a hospital. Hospital fires will disrupt care continuity, may require the evacuation of patients and have the potential to result in injuries or even deaths. The aim of this study is to gain insight into hospital fires in the Netherlands over a 20-year period.

Systematic scoping review of news articles mentioning hospital fires in the Netherlands retrieved from the LexisNexis database, Google, Google News, PubMed, and EMBASE between 2000 and 2020. Hospital fires were included if they were associated with the closure of hospital departments or intervention units and/or evacuations. The cause, location, involved departments, need for evacuation, and the number of casualties were evaluated.

Twenty-four major hospital fires were identified. More than half of these were caused by technical failures, and in 6 cases (25%), the fires were attributed to patients. In 71% of the incidents, acute care departments were affected by the fire. Twenty fires (83%) resulted in the evacuation of patients. In 2 cases, the fire resulted in the death of a patient.

Patient-attributed fires are a significant cause of major hospital fires in the Netherlands. Prevention and mitigation measures should be implemented accordingly.

Expanding staff levels is a strategy for hospitals to increase their surge capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether emergency health care workers (HCWs) are willing to work during crises or disasters, and which working conditions influence their decisions.

HCWs in the emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs) of 5 Dutch hospitals were surveyed about various disaster scenarios. For each scenario, HCWs were asked about their willingness to work (WTW) and which conditions would influence their decision. Knowledge, perceived risk, and danger were assessed per scenario.

A total of 306 out of 630 HCWs completed the survey. Influenza epidemics, SARS-CoV-2 pandemics, and natural disasters were associated with the highest WTW rates (69.0%, 63.7%, and 53.3%, respectively). WTW rate was lowest in nuclear incident (4.6%) and dirty bomb (3.3%) scenarios. WTW rate was higher in physicians than in nurses. Male ED HCWs, single HCWs, and childless HCWs were more often willing to work. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and the safety of HCWs’ families were the most important working conditions. Perceived knowledge scored lowest in the dirty bomb, biological, and nuclear incident scenarios. These scenarios were rated highest with respect to perceived danger.

WTW depends on disaster type, profession, and department. The provision of PPE and the safety of HCWs’ families were found to be the predominant favorable working conditions.

Disaster preparedness plays a vital role in mitigating risks and strengthening resilience of local communities in rural areas. This study examines the linkage between psychological factors and 4 kinds of disaster preparedness intentions and explores the challenges in translating intentions into actions.

This study utilized survey data from 325 households in Chongqing, China, that are threatened by geological disasters. We conducted empirical analysis using a regression model and carried out several robustness tests. The independent variables, psychological factors, are divided into risk appraisal, coping appraisal, and stakeholder appraisal. The dependent variable, disaster preparedness intentions, includes evacuation, disaster insurance, emergency supplies storage, and behaving eco-friendly.

Multiple psychological factors have significant influence on disaster preparedness intentions, with varying impacts on different preparedness aspects. Social barriers—lack of capital, access, and triggers—hinder translating preparedness intentions into actions.

Our study integrates protection motivation theory and protective action decision model to understand psychological factors influencing disaster preparedness in rural China. We identify key factors significantly impact preparedness intentions and uncover barriers hindering the translation of intentions into actions. The findings underscore the importance of integrated approaches that bridge the gap between psychological awareness and the availability of resources, ultimately fostering a more resilient society in the face of disasters.

Natural disasters can cause widespread death and extensive physical devastation, but also harmfully impact individual and community health following a disaster event. Nature-based recovery approach can positively influence the mental health of people and community’s post-natural disasters. In response to the Australian bushfire season of 2019-2020, Zoos Victoria, in partnership with the Arthur Rylah Institute, worked with local communities in East Gippsland to support people’s recovery through experiencing, supporting, and witnessing nature’s recovery.

This mixed-method study explored how nature improved the recovery of remote and rural communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires in East Gippsland. The research studied the individuals’ feelings about being involved in nature-based community events and their lived experiences. Data were collected from June to September 2023 through a nature-based community recovery project survey and community interviews.

The findings demonstrated that engagement with natural environments promotes positive psychological, mental, and general well-being of people from bushfire-affected communities. Positive feedback from participants indicated the success of the Nature-Based Community Recovery Project in East Gippsland after the Black Summer bushfire.

This research provides insights for future recovery projects and ensures that sustainable nature-based recovery solutions for bushfire-impacted communities can be established.