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Farhat H, Alinier G, Helou M, Galatis I, Bajow N, Jose D, Jouini S, Sezigen S, Hafi S, Mccabe S, Somrani N, Aifa KE, Chebbi H, Amor AB, Kerkeni Y, Al-Wathinani AM, Abdulla NM, Jairoun AA, Morris B, Castle N, Al-Sheikh L, Abougalala W, Dhiab MB, Laughton J. Perspectives on Preparedness for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Threats in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Application of Artificial Intelligence Techniques. Health Secur 2024; 22:190-202. [PMID: 38335443 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, the diversity of ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds worldwide, particularly in countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has led to an increase in the number of intercountry conflicts and terrorist attacks, sometimes involving chemical and biological agents. This warrants moving toward a collaborative approach to strengthening preparedness in the region. In disaster medicine, artificial intelligence techniques have been increasingly utilized to allow a thorough analysis by revealing unseen patterns. In this study, the authors used text mining and machine learning techniques to analyze open-ended feedback from multidisciplinary experts in disaster medicine regarding the MENA region's preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks. Open-ended feedback from 29 international experts in disaster medicine, selected based on their organizational roles and contributions to the academic field, was collected using a modified interview method between October and December 2022. Machine learning clustering algorithms, natural language processing, and sentiment analysis were used to analyze the data gathered using R language accessed through the RStudio environment. Findings revealed negative and fearful sentiments about a lack of accessibility to preparedness information, as well as positive sentiments toward CBRN preparedness concepts raised by the modified interview method. The artificial intelligence analysis techniques revealed a common consensus among experts about the importance of having accessible and effective plans and improved health sector preparedness in MENA, especially for potential chemical and biological incidents. Findings from this study can inform policymakers in the region to converge their efforts to build collaborative initiatives to strengthen CBRN preparedness capabilities in the healthcare sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Farhat
- Hassan Farhat, MRes, MSc, is a Quality Improvement Mentor, Quality Patient Safety and Risk Management, Ambulance Service Group, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medicine "Ibn El Jazzar," University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia; and PhD Candidate, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Guillaume Alinier
- Guillaume Alinier, PhD, MPhys (Hons), PGCert, SFHEA, NTF, is Director of Research, Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Visiting Professor, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK; Adjunct Professor, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; and Visiting Professor, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mariana Helou
- Mariana Helou, MD, MSc DM, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Clerkship Director of Emergency Room, Division Head of Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine Department - Emergency, Medicine Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ionnais Galatis
- Ionnais Galatis, Brigadier General (ret.), MD, MSc, MC, is an MD Consultant in Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Medical/Hospital/Ops CBRNE Planner/Instructor, Senior Asymmetric Threats Analyst, and Research Associate, Center for Security Studies (KEMEA), Athens, Greece; Manager, CBRN Knowledge Center, International CBRNE Institute, Brussels, Belgium; and Senior Advisor, Research Institute for European and American Studies, Alimos, Greece, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nidaa Bajow
- Nidaa Bajow, MD, PhD, is Disaster Medicine Coordinator and Disaster Medicine Training Supervisor, Disaster Medicine Unit, Emergency Department Security Force Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Denis Jose
- Denis Jose, Pharm D, PhD, is Colonel, Head, Pharmaceutical Services, and Technical Adviser on Toxicological and CBRNE Risk Management, Alpes-Maritimes Fire and Rescue Services, Paris, France, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sarra Jouini
- Sarra Jouini, MD, is Emergency Coordinator, Emergency Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, and an Associate Professor, EL Manar University, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sermet Sezigen
- Sermet Sezigen, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor, Department of Medical CBRN Defense, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Samia Hafi
- Samia Hafi, MD, is Head of SAMU(EMS), Hospital of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sheena Mccabe
- Sheena Mccabe, MSc, is a Consultant Lecture for BSc in Crisis and Emergency Management, Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College, Ras Laffan, Qatar, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Naoufel Somrani
- Naoufel Somrani, MD, is General Director of Public Health Facilities, Ministry of Health, Tunis, Tunisia, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kawther El Aifa
- Kawther El Aifa, MSc, is a Quality Management/Improvement Reviewer, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Henda Chebbi
- Henda Chebbi, MD, is Assistant Director of Emergency Medicine Unit, Strategic Health Operations Center (SHOCR Room), Emergency Medicine Directorate, Ministry of Health, Tunis, Tunisia, at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asma Ben Amor
- Asma Ben Amor, MRes, is a Paramedicine Professor, Higher School of Health Sciences and Technologies of Sousse, and a PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medicine "Ibn El Jazzar," University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia, at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yosra Kerkeni
- Yosra Kerkeni, MD, is Emergency Coordinator, Emergency Medicine, Ministry of Health, Tunis, Tunisia, at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Al-Wathinani
- Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani, MHA, PhD, is Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Applied, Business Administration; Chairman of the Emergency Medical Services Department; Associate Professor of Emergency and Disaster Management, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nassem Mohammed Abdulla
- Nassem Mohammed Abdulla, PhD, is Head of Department, Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in Doha, Qatar
| | - Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun
- Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun, PhD, is Senior Consumables Material Inspection Officer, Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Head of Department, Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, in Doha, Qatar
| | - Brendon Morris
- Brendon Morris, MRes, MTec, is Executive Director, Major Incident Planning and Resilience, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nicholas Castle
- Nicholas Castle, PhD FIMC, is Interim Executive Director, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Loua Al-Sheikh
- Loua Al-Sheikh, MBChB, BSc(Hons), FRCA, is Medical Director, The Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Walid Abougalala
- Walid Abougalala, MBBS, EMDM, JMC(EM), MSc, MAo, MEdu, is a Consultant Emergency Preparedness and Response Department, Ministry of Public Health; Chairman, Corporate Facility Management and Safety Committee; and Consultant Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, in Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohamed Ben Dhiab
- Mohamed Ben Dhiab, MD, is Vice Dean, Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine "Ibn El Jazzar," University of Sousse, and Professor of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Farhat Hached Academic Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
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