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Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Challenges in Disaster; a Qualitative Study

Mohamad Sorani, Sogand Tourani, Hamid Reza Khankeh, Sirous Panahi
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Abstract

Introduction: Prehospital Emergency Medical Care (EMC) is a critical service in disaster management. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges of prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) during disaster response in Iran.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted from April 2015 to March 2017. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 23 experienced individuals in the field of disaster that were selected using purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed using content analysis approach.

Results: Fifteen sub-themes and the following six themes emerged in the analysis: challenges related to people, challenges related to infrastructure, challenges related to information management systems, challenges related to staff, challenges related to managerial issues and challenges related to medical care.

Conclusions: Iran’s prehospital EMS has been chaotic in past disasters. Improvement of this process needs infrastructure reform, planning, staff training and public education. 


Keywords

Disaster planning; emergency medical services; qualitative research; earthquakes

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22037/emergency.v6i1.20465

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The theme is developed by: Gostaresh Afzar Hamara