Saeed Hani, Hamid Sulaf, Zoukar Imad, Khiami Adel, Al Hawat Lama, Khoja Mohammed, Khawatmy Hossam, Abdalnour Hani, Dashash Mayssoon
Medical Education Program, Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Syria.
Faculty of Nursing, Latakia, Syria.
Confl Health. 2024 Jan 5;18(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s13031-023-00567-0.
The recent earthquake in Syria has caused widespread devastation, leading to extensive damage and loss of life. Considering the diverse range of disasters and conflicts that have affected Syrian society, health workers must possess essential competencies to effectively manage various types of disasters, including earthquakes. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify the specific competencies required by Syrian health workers to respond efficiently and effectively to earthquakes.
An exploratory qualitative study was conducted at the Medical Education Program MEP of the Syrian Virtual University SVU. Nine members of the research team of the MEP, who represent various health specializations in medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy, accepted to take part in this study. Among these, three members have been actively involved in providing health care in hospitals and the field during the Syrian earthquake on 6 February 2023. The Delphi process was adopted to identify competencies. Health workers involved in earthquake response were categorized into nine groups including medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, psychological support professionals, medical students, allied healthcare professionals, on-site disaster teams, and managers. The final list was accepted if it achieved more than 80% agreement among the participants in the first, second, and final rounds.
The study identified 74 competencies (12 knowledge items, 35 skills, and 27 attitudes) essential for health workers to respond effectively to earthquakes. They are categorized into five domains: "Preparing the team for the rescue process during and, after earthquakes, Implementation of the rescue process, Education and psychological support, Research, and development".
A list of earthquake competencies was identified for health workers. It is hoped that this list will enhance a country's resilience and will enable decision-makers to support health workers in acquiring these competencies within a very strained health system in Syria and other countries.
近期叙利亚地震造成了广泛破坏,导致大量损失和人员伤亡。鉴于影响叙利亚社会的灾害和冲突种类繁多,卫生工作者必须具备必要的能力,以有效应对包括地震在内的各类灾害。因此,开展本研究以确定叙利亚卫生工作者有效应对地震所需的具体能力。
在叙利亚虚拟大学的医学教育项目中进行了一项探索性定性研究。该项目研究团队的九名成员,代表医学、牙科、护理和药学等不同卫生专业,同意参与本研究。其中,三名成员在2023年2月6日叙利亚地震期间积极参与了医院和现场的医疗保健工作。采用德尔菲法确定能力。参与地震应对的卫生工作者分为九组,包括医生、牙医、药剂师、护士、心理支持专业人员、医学生、辅助医疗专业人员、现场灾害应对小组和管理人员。如果在第一轮、第二轮和最后一轮中参与者的达成率超过80%,则接受最终清单。
该研究确定了74项能力(12项知识项目、35项技能和27项态度),这些能力是卫生工作者有效应对地震所必需的。它们被分为五个领域:“在地震期间和之后为救援过程准备团队、实施救援过程、教育和心理支持、研究与发展”。
确定了卫生工作者应对地震的能力清单。希望这份清单能增强一个国家的复原力,并使决策者能够在叙利亚和其他国家紧张的卫生系统内支持卫生工作者获得这些能力。