Hu X, Chen H, Yu M. Exploring the non-technical competencies for on-scene public health responders in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear emergencies: a qualitative study.
Public Health 2020;
183:23-29. [PMID:
32413805 PMCID:
PMC7167558 DOI:
10.1016/j.puhe.2020.04.015]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to define and delineate specific non-technical competencies for first-line public health responders in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies in China.
Study design
A qualitative study was conducted in China involving interviews with key informants in the field of health response to CBRN disasters.
Methods
One-on-one in-depth interviews were carried out with 20 participants, including expert members of National Medical Response Teams for CBRN disasters, officials at emergency management authorities, and scholars of academic institutions related to CBRN emergency. Interviews were recorded using audio equipment, transcribed, and coded into codable passages as per grounded theory using NVivo software. Themes were identified within the transcriptions by using thematic analysis.
Results
A total of 159 codable passages were produced. Eight domains of non-technical core competencies were identified: (1) situation awareness, (2) communication skills, (3) collaboration, (4) resource management, (5) task management, (6) cultural competency, (7) austere environment skills, and (8) physical stamina.
Conclusions
The study identified a variety of competencies for on-scene public health responders in CBRN emergencies. The findings of this study could specifically benefit development of strategy and improvement of content of education and training. Further research that involves input from the disaster response community at large is needed for the validation of these competencies.
Non-technical competencies affect performance of health response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) disasters.
Austere environment skills and physical stamina are priority non-technical competencies for on-site public health responders in CBRN events.
Effective CBRN health emergency training should integrate and synchronize courses based on non-technical/technical competency.
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