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Preparedness of Anesthesiologists Working in Humanitarian Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2013

Bernhard Rössler ,
Peter Marhofer ,
Michael Hüpfl ,
Bernadette Peterhans  and
Karl Schebesta
Bernhard Rössler*
Affiliation:
Medical Simulation and Emergency Management Research Group, Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria
Peter Marhofer
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria
Michael Hüpfl
Affiliation:
Medical Simulation and Emergency Management Research Group, Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria
Bernadette Peterhans
Affiliation:
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Karl Schebesta
Affiliation:
Medical Simulation and Emergency Management Research Group, Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Bernhard Rössler, MD, MIH, Department of Anesthesia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, WA, Australia (e-mail bernhard.roessler@meduniwien.ac.at).
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Abstract

Objective

Many skills needed to provide patients with safe, timely, and adequate anesthesia care during humanitarian crisis and disaster relief operations are not part of the daily routine before deployment. An exploratory study was conducted to identify preparedness, knowledge, and skills needed for deployment to complex emergencies.

Methods

Anesthesiologists who had been deployed during humanitarian crisis and disaster relief operations completed an online questionnaire assessing their preparedness, skills, and knowledge needed during deployment. Qualitative data were sorted by frequencies and similarities and clustered accordingly.

Results

Of 121 invitations sent out, 55 (46%) were completed and returned. Of these respondents, 24% did not feel sufficiently prepared for the deployment, and 69% did not undertake additional education for their missions. Insufficient preparedness involved equipment, drugs, regional anesthesia, and related management.

Conclusions

As the lack of preparation and relevant training can create precarious situations, anesthesiologists and deploying agencies should improve preparedness for anesthesia personnel. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0;1–5)

Keywords

anesthesiaemergency servicedisastersinternational agenciesrelief work
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 408 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013 

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