Showing papers on "Preparedness published in 2017"

Does Remediation Work for All Students? How the Effects of Postsecondary Remedial and Developmental Courses Vary by Level of Academic Preparation:

Abstract: We examine the impact of remedial and developmental courses on college students with varying levels of academic preparedness, thus focusing on a wider range of students than previous studies. Using a regression discontinuity design, we provide causal estimates of the effects of placement in different levels of remedial courses on short-, intermediate-, and long-term outcomes at both 2- and 4-year colleges. Similar to other research, we find that remediation has negative effects for students on the margin of needing one developmental course. However, for students with lower levels of academic preparation, the effects of remediation are estimated to be positive in some subjects. These results suggest that remedial courses can help or hinder students differently depending on their incoming levels of academic preparedness. Moreover, our conclusions are largely driven by positive and negative effects observed for students at 2-year institutions, and we discuss several hypotheses that may explain these findings.

The role of prior experience in informing and motivating earthquake preparedness

Abstract: Motivating household preparedness for earthquakes can be difficult, especially given the infrequent and varying nature of major events. Past research has shown that people's experiences contribute to their beliefs about whether, and how, they should prepare for earthquakes. Direct experience of a disaster can be a strong motivator of preparedness; however, most people will not directly experience a large damaging earthquake in their lifetimes. They instead need to rely on experience of small earthquakes, experience of different disasters, adverse life experiences (e.g. accidents), or vicarious experience. This paper explores the influence of such experiences on earthquake preparedness. The research found that experience has seven different influences on the preparedness process including: prompting thinking and talking; raising awareness and knowledge; helping individuals understand the consequences of a disaster; developing beliefs; developing preparedness; influencing emotions and feelings; and prompting community interaction on disaster issues.

Properties of Resilient Organizations: An Initial View

Abstract: This chapter shows that how a product of work performed to develop leading indicators of organizational performance can be adapted to reflect the kinds of issues of interest in the development of resilience engineering. The concepts of resilience and the anticipated tools for resilience engineering are intended to address these weaknesses head on. Thus, resilience engineering is a new management discipline that encompasses both safety management and other types of management, particularly process and financial management. The themes identified in the review are management commitment, awareness, preparedness, flexibility, reporting culture, learning culture, and opacity. The seven themes in highly resilient organizations are: Top-level commitment, Just culture, Learning culture, Awareness, Preparedness, Flexibility and Opacity. Systems engineering techniques exist for describing formally the behavior of organizations and how in reality the organization manages to accomplish its goals. Many of these techniques stem from the work of the soft systems modelers in the late 1970s and 1980s, such as the work by Checkland.

How prepared are UK medical graduates for practice? A rapid review of the literature 2009-2014

Abstract: Objective To understand how prepared UK medical graduates are for practice and the effectiveness of workplace transition interventions. Design A rapid review of the literature (registration #CRD42013005305). Data sources Nine major databases (and key websites) were searched in two timeframes (July–September 2013; updated May–June 2014): CINAHL, Embase, Educational Resources Information Centre, Health Management Information Consortium, MEDLINE, MEDLINE in Process, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Knowledge. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Primary research or studies reporting UK medical graduates' preparedness between 2009 and 2014: manuscripts in English; all study types; participants who are final-year medical students, medical graduates, clinical educators, patients or NHS employers and all outcome measures. Data extraction At time 1, three researchers screened manuscripts (for duplicates, exclusion/inclusion criteria and quality). Remaining 81 manuscripts were coded. At time 2, one researcher repeated the process for 2013–2014 (adding six manuscripts). Data were analysed using a narrative synthesis and mapped against Tomorrow's Doctors (2009) graduate outcomes. Results Most studies comprised junior doctors' self-reports (65/87, 75%), few defined preparedness and a programmatic approach was lacking. Six themes were highlighted: individual skills/knowledge, interactional competence, systemic/technological competence, personal preparedness, demographic factors and transitional interventions. Graduates appear prepared for history taking, physical examinations and some clinical skills, but unprepared for other aspects, including prescribing, clinical reasoning/diagnoses, emergency management, multidisciplinary team-working, handover, error/safety incidents, understanding ethical/legal issues and ward environment familiarity. Shadowing and induction smooth transition into practice, but there is a paucity of evidence around assistantship efficacy. Conclusions Educational interventions are needed to address areas of unpreparedness (eg, multidisciplinary team-working, prescribing and clinical reasoning). Future research in areas we are unsure about should adopt a programmatic and rigorous approach, with clear definitions of preparedness, multiple stakeholder perspectives along with multisite and longitudinal research designs to achieve a joined-up, systematic, approach to understanding future educational requirements for junior doctors.

The graduating European dentist: a new undergraduate curriculum framework

Abstract: With "The Graduating European Dentist", ADEE provides a new approach that reflects best academic practice for European undergraduate dental education. The new suite of documents sees increased emphasis on important curriculum components such as patient safety, working as a team and patient-centred care. There is also an increased emphasis on teaching excellence, student satisfaction and student preparedness and support. Guidance relating to methods of teaching and learning, and assessment (educational measurement), is also provided. It is anticipated that this new format will further increase accessibility and utility for educators, institutions, societies and regulators, across the sector.

Engaging ‘communities’: anthropological insights from the West African Ebola epidemic

Abstract: The recent Ebola epidemic in West Africa highlights how engaging with the sociocultural dimensions of epidemics is critical to mounting an effective outbreak response. Community engagement was pivotal to ending the epidemic and will be to post-Ebola recovery, health system strengthening and future epidemic preparedness and response. Extensive literatures in the social sciences have emphasized how simple notions of community, which project solidarity onto complex hierarchies and politics, can lead to ineffective policies and unintended consequences at the local level, including doing harm to vulnerable populations. This article reflects on the nature of community engagement during the Ebola epidemic and demonstrates a disjuncture between local realities and what is being imagined in post-Ebola reports about the lessons that need to be learned for the future. We argue that to achieve stated aims of building trust and strengthening outbreak response and health systems, public health institutions need to reorientate their conceptualization of 'the community' and develop ways of working which take complex social and political relationships into account.This article is part of the themed issue 'The 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic: data, decision-making and disease control'.

An empirical examination of firm financial performance along dimensions of supply chain resilience

Abstract: Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of three critical dimensions of supply chain resilience, supply chain preparedness, supply chain alertness and supply chain agility, all aimed at increasing a firm’s financial outcomes. In a turbulent environment, firms require resilience in their supply chains to prepare for potential changes, detect changes and respond to actual changes, thus providing superior value. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data from 77 firms, this study develops scales for preparedness, alertness and agility. It then tests their hypothesized relationships with a firm’s financial performance. Findings The results reveal that the three dimensions of supply chain resilience (i.e. preparedness, alertness and agility) significantly impact a firm’s financial performance. It is also found that supply chain preparedness, as a proactive resilience capability, has a greater influence on a firm’s financial performance than the reactive capabilities including alertness and agility, suggesting that firms should pay more attention to proactive approaches for building supply chain resilience. Originality/value First, this study develops a comparatively comprehensive definition for supply chain resilience and explores its dimensionality. Second, this study provides empirically validated instruments for the dimensions of supply chain resilience. Third, this study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence for direct impact of supply chain resilience dimensions on a firm’s financial performance.

Impact of extreme weather events and climate change for health and social care systems

Abstract: This review, commissioned by the Research Councils UK Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) programme, concerns research on the impacts on health and social care systems in the United Kingdom of extreme weather events, under conditions of climate change. Extreme weather events considered include heatwaves, coldwaves and flooding. Using a structured review method, we consider evidence regarding the currently observed and anticipated future impacts of extreme weather on health and social care systems and the potential of preparedness and adaptation measures that may enhance resilience. We highlight a number of general conclusions which are likely to be of international relevance, although the review focussed on the situation in the UK. Extreme weather events impact the operation of health services through the effects on built, social and institutional infrastructures which support health and health care, and also because of changes in service demand as extreme weather impacts on human health. Strategic planning for extreme weather and impacts on the care system should be sensitive to within country variations. Adaptation will require changes to built infrastructure systems (including transport and utilities as well as individual care facilities) and also to institutional and social infrastructure supporting the health care system. Care sector organisations, communities and individuals need to adapt their practices to improve resilience of health and health care to extreme weather. Preparedness and emergency response strategies call for action extending beyond the emergency response services, to include health and social care providers more generally.

Stochastic optimisation model for integrated decisions on relief supply chains: preparedness for disaster response

Abstract: This paper proposes a stochastic linear mixed-integer programming model for integrated decisions in the preparedness and response stages in pre- and post-disaster operations, respectively. We develop a model for integrated decisions that considers three key areas of emergency logistics: facility and stock prepositioning, evacuation planning and relief vehicle planning. To develop a framework for effective relief operations, we consider not only a cost-based but also an equity-based solution approach in our multiple objectives model. Then a normalised weighted sum method is used to parameterise our multiple objective programming model. This paper suggests a compromise between the cost, and the equity of relief victims. The experiments also demonstrate how time restrictions and the availability of relief vehicles impact the two objective functions.

Household preparedness for natural disasters: Impact of disaster experience and implications for future disaster risks in Japan

Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of disaster experience on household preparation of emergency supplies for natural disasters using originally collected Japanese data from 2013. The data cover more than 20,000 households from all parts Japan and include areas with recent disaster experiences as well as areas with low disaster risks. We generate indices for three categories of preparedness using data on household preparation of nine emergency items: Basic Preparedness (BP), Energy/Heat Preparedness (EHP), and Evacuation Preparedness (EP). We use regression analyses to measure the effect of disaster experiences on the preparation of categories of emergency supplies. The results show that experience with disaster damage increases preparedness, but the magnitude of the impact varies among the item categories. Additionally, evacuation experience has a positive impact on the preparation of items from the BP and EP categories. Moreover, the people who experienced damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) in 2011 are relatively more prepared, but evacuation experience in the GEJE does not have a significant impact on preparedness. Furthermore, we find that some regions with higher future risk of large-scale earthquakes are less prepared compared to other regions. This result suggests the importance of policy makers’ efforts to raise awareness of disaster risks and to combat insufficient preparedness to reduce future disaster damages.

What is the value of health emergency preparedness exercises? A scoping review study

Abstract: Emergency exercises involving the health community are considered an important and integral part of emergency preparedness activities. However, little is known about whether these exercises are effective at improving individual and/or organisational preparedness for responding to emergencies. This paper reviews and summarises published evidence on the effectiveness and benefits of exercises to prepare health emergency professionals for responding to emergencies and disasters. A literature search strategy was designed to identify the relevant publications from four major medical databases (Medline, Embase, Global Health and CINAHL). Studies meeting our inclusion criteria were analysed in detail (N=86). Both qualitative and quantitative data were reviewed. Data analysis involved a descriptive summary and a thematic analysis. Health emergency preparedness exercises were found to be effective (post exercise) at improving participants’ knowledge of emergency activities, policies and procedures and improving overall competence and confidence. Other immediate individual benefits included improved perceptions of preparedness and improved understanding of individual roles and roles of partners. Whether these improvements persist over time and translate into improved emergency response is not clear. The most commonly reported post-exercise organisational benefits were: identifying gaps or limitations in plans, protocols or procedures and providing opportunities to share lessons. Only a few identified studies reported the long-term impact of exercises on job practices and on real emergency response. Published evidence of exercises impact on individual and organisational levels of emergency preparedness and response over the long term is very limited. The majority of the studies included (n=65, 76%) were US-based.

The effects of trust in government on earthquake survivors’ risk perception and preparedness in China

Abstract: The role of trust in natural hazards risk management has not been widely examined yet. In this paper, the correlation between trust in government and individuals’ risk perception, as well as the perceived preparedness for earthquakes is examined. Survey data from 501 households in a Tibetan area in China affected by the 2010 Yushu earthquake are analyzed. The dependent variables are perceived seismic risk probability and consequences, as well as reported household preparedness for future earthquakes. The main predictor variable is trust in government, while trust in family members, trust in most of people in the society, trust in friends/relatives/colleagues, disaster impact, social support, socioeconomic and demographic variables (income, estimated house value, owned land, number of kids, gender, age, ethnicity, education, job categories, marriage status, political affiliation, religion, rural/urban residence) are used as control variables. Ordinal logistic regression models are employed in the analysis. The results indicate that people with higher degrees of trust in government perceive lower consequences of potential earthquakes and tend to prepare less. In the preparedness model, both perceived probability and consequences are additional strong and significant predictors. Potential theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Disaster Preparedness among Health Professionals and Support Staff: What is Effective? An Integrative Literature Review.

Abstract: Introduction It is important that health professionals and support staff are prepared for disasters to safeguard themselves and the community during disasters. There has been a significantly heightened focus on disasters since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York (USA); however, despite this, it is evident that health professionals and support staff may not be adequately prepared for disasters. Report An integrative literature review was performed based on a keyword search of the major health databases for primary research evaluating preparedness of health professionals and support staff. The literature was quality appraised using a mixed-methods appraisal tool (MMAT), and a thematic analysis was completed to identify current knowledge and gaps. Discussion The main themes identified were: health professionals and support staff may not be fully prepared for disasters; the most effective content and methods for disaster preparedness is unknown; and the willingness of health professionals and support staff to attend work and perform during disasters needs further evaluation. Gaps were identified to guide further research and the creation of new knowledge to best prepare for disasters. These included the need for: high-quality research to evaluate the best content and methods of disaster preparedness; inclusion of the multi-disciplinary health care team as participants; preparation for internal disasters; the development of validated competencies for preparedness; validated tools for measurement; and the importance of performance in actual disasters to evaluate preparation. Conclusion The literature identified that all types of disaster preparedness activities lead to improvements in knowledge, skills, or attitude preparedness for disasters. Most studies focused on external disasters and the preparedness of medical, nursing, public health, or paramedic professionals. There needs to be a greater focus on the whole health care team, including allied health professionals and support staff, for both internal and external disasters. Evaluation during real disasters and the use of validated competencies and tools to deliver and evaluate disaster preparedness will enhance knowledge of best practice preparedness. However, of the 36 research articles included in this review, only five were rated at 100% using the MMAT. Due to methodological weakness of the research reviewed, the findings cannot be generalized, nor can the most effective method be determined. Gowing JR , Walker KN , Elmer SL , Cummings EA . Disaster Preparedness among Health Professionals and Support Staff: What is Effective? An Integrative Literature Review. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(3):321–328.

Expanding protection motivation theory: investigating an application to animal owners and emergency responders in bushfire emergencies.

Abstract: Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was developed by Rogers in 1975, to describe how individuals are motivated to react in a self-protective way towards a perceived health threat. Rogers expected the use of PMT to diversify over time, which has proved true over four decades. The purpose of this paper is to explore how PMT can be used and expanded to inform and improve public safety strategies in natural hazards. As global climate change impacts on the Australian environment, natural hazards seem to be increasing in scale and frequency, and Emergency Services’ public education campaigns have necessarily escalated to keep pace with perceived public threat. Of concern, is that the awareness-preparedness gap in residents’ survival plans is narrowing disproportionately slowly compared to the magnitude of resources applied to rectify this trend. Practical applications of adaptable social theory could be used to help resolve this dilemma. PMT has been used to describe human behaviour in individuals, families, and the parent-child unit. It has been applied to floods in Europe and wildfire and earthquake in the United States. This paper seeks to determine if an application of PMT can be useful for achieving other-directed human protection across a novel demographic spectrum in natural hazards, specifically, animal owners and emergency responders in bushfire emergencies. These groups could benefit from such an approach: owners to build and fortify their response- and self-efficacy, and to help translate knowledge into safer behaviour, and responders to gain a better understanding of a diverse demographic with animal ownership as its common denominator, and with whom they will be likely to engage in contemporary natural hazard management. Mutual collaboration between these groups could lead to a synergy of reciprocated response efficacy, and safer, less traumatic outcomes. Emergency services’ community education programs have made significant progress over the last decade, but public safety remains suboptimal while the magnitude of the awareness-preparedness gap persists. This paper examines an expanded, other-directed application of PMT to expand and enhance safer mitigation and response behaviour strategies for communities threatened by bushfire, which may ultimately help save human life.

What influences disaster risk perception? Intervention measures, flood and landslide risk perception of the population living in flood risk areas in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Abstract: The flooding and landslides catastrophe in 2011 in the mountainous area of Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil affected more than 300,000 people and created unquantifiable material losses, mostly in the Nova Friburgo Municipality. Even with the available technologies, programs and measures for disaster prevention, the population was not prepared. Following international frameworks like the Hyogo, governmental institutions related to risk management started working with the population to improve response, preparedness and perception. This work aims to evaluate disaster risk perception (DRP) and intervention measures of the population living in flood risk areas and relate it to variables such as landslide risk perception, experienced disasters and intervention measures taken from institutions and the population. Through 391 quantitative questionnaires and 20 semi-structured qualitative interviews, we reveal the connection between DRP, the people who may be affected and the strategies for response and preparedness of the institutions. Using descriptive statistics, factor analysis and regression, we develop six main factors related to risk perception. The regression defines flood risk perception (FRP) as the dependent factor and exposes the small influence on FRP from state and municipal institutions working with disaster risk reduction (~ 0.01) in comparison to past experiences (~ 0.52), demographic characteristics (~ 0.29) and local influences (~ 0.62). Supporting literature about DRP, examples about institutional influences are given. Hard and soft intervention measures exemplify neighborhoods developing perceptions according to institutional influences, local organization strategies and marginalization level, highlighting the importance of local participation on risk reduction programs to improve perception, trust and therefore, intervention measures.

Teachers' Views of Their Preparation for Inclusive Education and Collaboration.

Abstract: There is a need to advance inclusive education for students with significant disabilities, and one way to support this effort is to ensure educators have expertise in, and are prepared to implement, inclusive practices. We surveyed and interviewed general and special education teachers to understand their experiences and preparation to demonstrate skills associated with inclusive education and collaboration and identify the factors that may contribute to their preparation. There was a relationship between educators’ preparedness for inclusive education and whether they have taken university courses or had special training on inclusive education. Analysis of interviews with a subset of participants supported this finding and provided a deeper understanding of the educators’ preparation and experiences in implementing inclusive practices for students with significant disabilities.

Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: A Strategic Roadmap for Infection Control

Abstract: The incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has increased worldwide with great regional variability. Infections caused by these organisms are associated with crude mortality rates of up to 70%. The spread of CRE in healthcare settings is both an important medical problem and a major global public health threat. All countries are at risk of falling victim to the emergence of CRE; therefore, a preparedness plan is required to avoid the catastrophic natural course of this epidemic. Proactive and adequate preventive measures locally, regionally, and nationally are required to contain the spread of these bacteria. The keys to success in preventing the establishment of CRE endemicity in a region are early detection through targeted laboratory protocols and containment of spread through comprehensive infection control measures. This guideline provides a strategic roadmap for infection control measures based on the best available evidence and expert opinion, to enable preparation of a multifaceted preparedness plan to abort epidemics of CRE. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:580-594.

New Vaccines against Epidemic Infectious Diseases

Abstract: The newly formed international Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations aims to stimulate, finance, and coordinate the development of vaccines against epidemic infectious diseases, especially in cases in which market incentives alone are insufficient.

Motivational Cues and Angel Investing: Interactions among Enthusiasm, Preparedness, and Commitment:

Abstract: Angel investors often make investment decisions based on motivational cues communicated during pitches—including enthusiasm, preparedness, and commitment—to evaluate potentially important qualities...

The self-care practices of family caregivers of persons with poor prognosis cancer: differences by varying levels of caregiver well-being and preparedness

Abstract: Purpose Little is known about the impact of family caregiving for adults with poor prognosis cancer on caregivers’ own individual self-care practices. We explored differences in caregivers’ discrete self-care practices associated with varying levels of caregiver well-being, preparedness, and decision-making self-efficacy.

Analysing social media data for disaster preparedness: Understanding the opportunities and barriers faced by humanitarian actors

Abstract: The use of social media applications by citizens, public authorities, and humanitarian organisations generates vast quantities of data. Research predominantly focuses on the use of social media and associated analysis tools during the short-term response phase of a disaster. As such, the use of social media analysis tools to harness social media data for preparedness purposes is currently unclear. This research uses a combination of semi-structured interviews with 20 Red Cross Red Crescent and humanitarian actors, an online survey, two workshops and desk-based research to examine the opportunities and barriers faced by humanitarian actors in using social media analysis tools to analyse social media data for disaster preparedness. Whilst social media analysis tools provide humanitarian actors with an opportunity to understand the effectiveness of their preparedness communication on social media, to monitor risks and disasters, and to build community preparedness networks, this study identified a limited use of social media analysis tools by research participants. This (non) use of social media analysis tools was influenced by the interaction between seven categories of barriers relating to the user of the tool or the tool itself: language, culture, value, financial, human resources, technology, and data. In discussing these barriers, the authors highlight the key role that context plays in determining the significance of each barrier on the selection and use of social media analysis tools for preparedness.