Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Disaster planning approaches in Iran’s health system: A mixed‑methods study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Ali Mohajervatan
. Golrokh Atighechian 1
. Hamid Reza Khankeh 2
. Ahmad Reza Raeisi 1
. Nahid Tavakoli 1

1 Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Research Center for Emergency and Disaster Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Disaster planning and management pose a serious challenge to most countries.
These challenges point to insufficient planning to deal with these events. Therefore, it is necessary
to pay attention to the methods and characteristics of the decision‑making approaches in these
events. In this study, we tried to identify most appropriate approaches for the Iranian health system
by studying disaster planning approaches.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted using mixed methods in 2020–2021
in two phases: qualitative and quantitative. First, we reviewed at the research literature. Our goal
was to identify studies that suggested approaches to disaster planning. The next step in this study
was a qualitative study using semi‑structured interviews. Participants in qualitative phase included
managers and employees from different parts of the Iranian health system from the provinces of
Golestan, Fars, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Kerman, Sistan, and Baluchestan.
RESULTS: By combining approaches taken from literature reviews and qualitative study, four main
approaches were identified. The results of our study have shown that disaster response planning
approaches include function, risk assessment, capability, and futuristic base.
CONCLUSION: This study provides complete overview of disaster planning approaches that enable
health professionals to use them to develop response plans. Our findings indicate that in complex
and large‑scale events such as floods and pandemics, it is necessary to combine the introduced
methods for operational planning.

Keywords

Approach
disaster
function
health systems
plan
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 8
September 2022
Pages 1-6

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