Developing Public Health Emergency Response Leaders in Incident Management: A Scoping Review of Educational Interventions

Drivers and collaborative governance of public health emergency response in the context of digital city

Introduction

With the frequent occurrence of public health events, the government inevitably makes many mistakes in emergency management. In modern emergency management, it is particularly important to promote the diversification of emergency management subjects and improve the government's emergency management ability.

Methods

In order to make up for the deficiency of government's participation in public health emergency management, this paper analyzes the driving factors and driving effects of enterprises' participation in public health emergency response under the background of digital city. A fully explained structural model is used to analyze the relationship between the different drivers. In addition, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of public health events were analyzed through spatial auto-correlation. On this basis, the government cooperative governance strategy is discussed.

Results and discussion

The results show that in the context of digital cities, there are 14 driving factors for enterprises to participate in public health emergency response. The most important factors are the company's own development needs, relative technical advantages and so on. The driving efficiency is mainly concentrated in three aspects: psychology, resources and structure. Public health events have periodicity in time distribution and regional differences in spatial distribution. The significance of this study is to help the government improve the emergency management ability from different angles.

How does the COVID-19 pandemic impact medication adherence of patients with chronic disease?: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To determine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts patients with chronic disease medication adherence.

METHODS

Four electronic databases, PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus Full Text, were searched for literature between 2019 and 2021. Abstracts and later full texts were independently screened by the authors of this review using inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine relevance to our study. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of included texts. Relevant information and data from the included texts were extracted into tables for data synthesis and analysis.

RESULTS

Ten studies met the study criteria, the most popular study design was cross-sectional design (n = 9, 90.0%), others were case series (n = 1, 10.0%). Barriers to medication adherence and facilitators of medication adherence were the major two themes that participants reported regarding the impact of COVID-19 on medication adherence. Moreover, these two main themes have been organized in sub-themes that are dealt with in-depth.

DISCUSSION

Our results could heighten healthcare providers, stakeholders, and policy leaders' awareness of providing appropriate support for chronic disease patients, especially regarding medication adherence. Future research incorporating programs that support patients' needs is recommended.

Hospital preparedness for major incidents in Sweden: a national survey with focus on mass casualty incidents

INTRODUCTION

Mass-casualty incidents, MCI, pose a constant threat on societies all over the world. It is essential that hospital organizations systematically prepare for such situations. A method for repeated follow-up and evaluation of hospital disaster planning is much needed.

AIMS

To evaluate Swedish hospitals´ disaster preparedness with focus on MCI through a web-based survey to highlight areas in need of improvement to ensure better preparedness and resilience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online survey was sent to all Swedish emergency hospitals (n = 87, 49 emergency hospitals). One respondent per hospital answered questions about the hospital's disaster planning, training, key functions, and preparedness. The survey was developed based on current knowledge on key areas of interest for all-hazard preparedness, including the WHO's guidelines. The survey was open between September 6th and November 1st, 2021.

RESULTS

39 hospitals (34 emergency hospitals) from 18/21 regions participated. Main findings included marked differences between regions and hospital types regarding contingency plans, organization, formal education for key functions, disaster training and triage systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally, Swedish hospitals cover most key areas in disaster preparedness, but no hospital appears to have a full all-hazards coverage, which leaves room for improvement. There are large variations between the different hospitals' preparedness, which need to decrease. Several hospitals expressed a need of national guidelines for developing equivalent contingency plans. The study-method could be used for monitoring compliance with current laws and guidelines.

Attitudes and Response Capacities for Public Health Emergencies of Healthcare Workers in Primary Healthcare Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Investigation Conducted in Wuhan, China, in 2020

OBJECTIVES

Response capacities for public health emergencies (PHEs) amongst healthcare workers play important roles in the prevention and control of PHEs. This study assessed the attitudes and response capacities of PHE workers in primary healthcare (PHC) institutions.

METHODS

An online anonymous questionnaire survey of 803 healthcare workers sampled from 13 PHC institutions in Wuhan, China, was conducted from April to June 2020. The Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression model were used to analyze the response capacities of PHE workers and associated factors.

RESULTS

The healthcare workers with longer working years, particularly 30 years and above, had higher knowledge (OR = 7.323, p < 0.001) and practical ability scores (OR = 8.012, p < 0.001) when compared to those with less than 5 working years. The nurses had higher practical ability scores (OR = 2.188, p = 0.049), and pharmacists had lower practical ability scores (OR = 0.166, p = 0.007), when compared to doctors. Moreover, the healthcare workers who had never participated in educational activities related to PHE management in the past two years (OR = 0.540, p = 0.038; OR = 0.282, p = 0.001), had not participated in a PHE drill activity (OR = 0.327, p < 0.001; OR = 0.340, p = 0.004), and had never been involved in emergency management of PHEs (OR = 0.254, p < 0.001; OR = 0.174, p < 0.001) had lower knowledge and practical ability scores.

CONCLUSION

The healthcare workers with longer working years had better response capacities, and nurses had better practical abilities when compared to doctors. More emergency management education and chances to be involved in PHE drill activities were encouraged amongst healthcare workers in PHC institutions for better prevention and control of PHEs. Moreover, inter-institution cooperation, a flexible response system, and dynamic adjustment of healthcare workers were suggested during PHEs.

Adaptive leadership of doctors during COVID-19

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the adaptive leadership of doctors during COVID-19 to understand the leadership competencies required for adaptive events.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

Phenomenology-based qualitative design was used. Data were collected from six doctors from the state of Kerala, India using semi-structured interviews.

FINDINGS

Five themes were identified. The first theme, core leadership shows that doctors perceive leaders as educators, learners and social beings. The second theme, adaptive challenges, describes the ambiguous pandemic-related challenges that doctors are facing including, unusual occupational demands, information overload, sociocultural issues and personal intricacies. The third theme reflects that for doctors, adaptive work during the pandemic included - new learning to address unique issues, changing perspectives and establishing and maintaining a safe and engaging workplace environment. The fourth theme describes the adaptive leadership competencies such as regulating distress, providing direction, maintaining disciplined action, fostering collaboration, empowering, understanding organizational linkages, strategic vision and communication skills. The fifth theme elucidates the lacunae in leadership training as perceived by the doctors.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS

The findings can help in developing and enhancing competency frameworks for doctors' adaptive leadership.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

This is one of the earliest studies to systematically examine components of adaptive leadership for doctors during COVID-19 and identify associated competencies.