Journal of Rescue and Relief
Year:2017 | Volume:8 | Issue:1-2|Papers Count:12

Background: In addition to specific organizations of emergency management, the presence of volunteers is needed in emergency situation. The volunteers come from different professional background and provide many services. In this regard, this research aims to study the importance and priority of professions in volunteer activities in hospitals.Method: In this applied- development research which the method is descriptive, the researchers made questionnaire used for data collection based on five-point Likert scale. The statistical population includes managers, emergency doctors and nurses at hospitals of Tehran University of medical science. Also 180 people were selected by using random sampling and Cochran formula. To analyze data, descriptive and inferential statistics (one-sample t-test, Friedman and chi-square test) were used.Findings: The results indicated that among the professions, medical careers (emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, doctors and nurse assistant) are the most appropriate professions for volunteers. Among the non-medical careers (managers and employees of organizations, installation and army forces) can be useful in volunteer activities for hospitals and medical centers.Conclusion: According to the results, people familiar with the relief activities could play significant role in volunteerism. The non-related jobs to health issues would have been inappropriate for volunteer activities.

Background: Urban transportation network especially in big towns has basic role in earthquake crisis management and also is known as the most vulnerable network against earthquake. Besides casualties, losses related to lifelines such as electric networks, water and sewage system network, transportation infrastructures are remarkable. Therefore, it is necessary to take actions in order to identify and determine the accessible and optimal routes after earthquake for intra city transportation activities for firefighting vehicles, ambulances and etc. Method: This study aimed to evaluate the roads and their vulnerability in Kashan earthquake of magnitude 6.5. Firstly, a model is introduced to assess damage and vulnerability of roads and passages via calculation of the blockage level with considering factors such as building debris, building characteristics and distances between buildings and roads and passages. Then, degree of lateral and longitudinal blockage is estimated and useable maps is provided by extending the model on 57 main roads and passages and 41 homogenous units in Kashan city and gathering information about Kashan urban transportation network in GIS.Findings: The research findings are as follows: a) The width of the passages and roads is one of the factors affecting its blockage after the earthquake. Whatever passages and roads are wider the lateral blockage is more. b) Longitudinal blockage in the old tissue is more. The reason is the materials used in building and building configuration and lack of its strength.

Background: Earthquake is a visible and repeatable natural disaster which can be felt in the geologic time scale. However, the lack of earthquakes will not ensure permanent stability in the region. More than 90% of the regions are located on the earthquake belt referring to the relative hazard zonation map of earthquakes in Iran. In this regard, the seismic vulnerability evaluation in different regions of the country should be a priority in the planning.Method: In this analytical and applied research, introducing different perspectives in relation to vulnerability, firstly, spatial autocorrelation analysis (ARCGIS) is used in order to identify patterns of population distribution in the city of Najaf Abad. Then, a variety of qualitative and quantitative parameters and analytic network process (ANP) is used on the basis of multi-criteria decision approach to analyze the seismic vulnerability in Najafabad.Findings: The results showed the presence of a cluster pattern of population distribution in the city, high population density in the central part of the city and Yazdanshahr town in the southwestern. Also, about 30% of total vulnerability hazard map developed in accordance with the city's high vulnerability zone and 37% of the area were with an average of vulnerability. With the implementation of the zoning map of population distribution, over 51, 000 persons (at a density between 70 and 100 ones per hectare) were in high vulnerability.Conclusion: According to new theories such as risk-crisis management, long-term goals can be achieved if the safety of the city against earthquake risk consider as an objective and comprehensive planning at all levels with emphasis on socio-economic factors.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological problem after disasters. However, due to lack of local studies in this field, this study was conducted in order to determine the comparison of PTSD eighteen months after Bam earthquake in cities of Bam and Kerman.Method: In this cross-sectional study, about 422 people were studied (205 ones from Bam and 217 from Kerman) with stratified cluster sampling in three age groups: young adults, adults and elderly. Also, PTSD (Watson) and personal information questionnaires were used for data gathering.Findings: The accumulative prevalence of PTSD in respondents of Bam and Kerman were 66.7% and 57.1% respectively (p=0.045). The prevalence of moderate to severe PTSD in respondents of Bam and Kerman were about 58.9% and 35.1% respectively (p<0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of minor PTSD in Bam and Kerman were about 7.7% and 21.9%, respectively (p<0.001). According to gender and different age groups, there was no statistically significant difference based on the prevalence of PTSD in the city of Bam and Kerman.Conclusion: The results demonstrated that even after one and half years after Bam earthquake, the PTSD prevalence in Kerman city which located near Bam and had no destruction and mortality like Bam is still high, getting chronic form and proper interventions are needed for decreasing this disorder in both cities.

Background: Creating an education system with the ability to training others for the future is the most important responsibility in this modern society. Universities play a significant role in order to educate people with key competencies and skills in the changing environment. This research aims to identify students’ viewpoints about learning these skills while studying at universities.Method: In this applied and cross-sectional survey, about 228 students from all (about 560 persons) were selected and studied randomly in Iran Helal Institute of Applied-Science & Technology. Data were collected by using self-administrated questionnaire and Cronbach's alpha (0.82). Then, the obtained information was analyzed by using SPSS-15 software and tests such as one sample t-test and two independent samples t. (sig=0.05) Findings: The results indicated that the scores of all parameter of key competencies and skills were lower than average and the difference was significant. The participants believed that there was no special program for learning these skills during courses based on fourfold pillar of key competencies. Also, there was not a significance differences between the viewpoints of freshman and sophomores with junior and seniors.Conclusion: The results are as follows: in intellectual competencies dimension, there was not enough attention to learn skills like analytical ability, decision-making ability, abstract thinking, and strategic programming. In personal competencies dimension, university was unsuccessful to learn abilities such as accountability, versatility, and acceptable performance. In interpersonal competencies dimension, there were no plans to learn abilities like oral communication, collaborative skills, and positive thinking. Also, in management competencies dimension, paying attention to learn ability like working under pressure, problem solving, leadership and persuasion are needed.

Background: Planning systems in organizations are faced some challenges due to rapid environmental changes and strategic foresight have been extensively welcomed based on its flexible nature for unstable future alternatives. Strategic foresight process in organizations needs to pay attention to human resources. Vision-focused managers and leaders must pay more attention to create job satisfaction and motivation for future of organization. Thus, the main question of this research is to investigate affecting factors on employees’ job satisfaction and to present some ways for improving it. By reviewing affecting factors of employees’ job satisfaction and its relationship with future of organization, this study prepare research background for these topics.Method: In this research, all employees of Red Crescent society of Qazvin were studied. Confirmatory factor analysis is used both for assessing the relationship between questionnaire indicators and job satisfaction factors, and also for investigating the extent of relationship between job satisfaction factors and future of organization.Findings: Factors influencing on job satisfaction are categorized into two sections: firstly, environmental factors of job which consist of the way people behave, nature of job tasks, relationship with colleagues, and rewards. Secondly, individual factors such as past experiences and personality. Both categories influenced each other In terms of job satisfaction.Conclusion: Five factors influencing job satisfaction in employees of Red Crescent are were ranked as job nature, management (superior), colleagues, opportunities for promotion, salary, and benefits.

Background: Earthquake as one of the natural disasters has caused many problems in our country. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has declared that disasters have a serious impact on educational services in Iran not only because for the loss of the lives of teachers and students, but also in many other ways such as the sudden interruption of the educational process and psychological disruption of students. So, it is necessary to be prepared for such disasters.Method: This research was done to determine how well the junior high schools were prepared for a prospective earthquake disaster. The study was descriptive and the samples of the research have comprised all the principals of junior high schools in Shiraz city, crisis experts and scholars. Both AHP and school preparedness level questionnaires were used to hather information. AHP questionnaire has measured the priority of three main fields of school preparedness level such as emergency plans, emergency operations and emergency resources. The school preparedness level has evaluated the readiness range of the schools to deal with earthquake hazard by asking 36 specific questions. Using t-test, Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman test according to parametric or non-parametric situations, data were analyzed based on SPSS and Expert Choice software.Findings: The data analysis has revealed that emergency plans and emergency operations had the most and the least importance respectively. Among junior high schools, 6.9% had very high, 32.7% high, 29.7% moderate, 22.8% low, and 9.7% had very low preparedness against earthquake.Conclusion: The preparedness level of Shiraz junior high schools had been evaluated moderate. This preparedness level is not appropriate regarding to serious risk of earthquake.

Background: There is a need for rapid response centers in unexpected disasters with balanced and equitable access to assess and to locate the optimal fixed and mobile stations of relief and rescue in Guilan province due to the extensive forest resources and abundant rainfall that sometimes leads to flood and wildfires, road accidents and earthquakes in one hand; and tourist attraction, high population density and dispersion of rural areas in Guilan province in other hand.Method: In this study, mixed methods research was used, quantitative method (AHP) and qualitative method for collecting data. Data collected with Interviewing experts and specialists, reviewing the records and previous documents by using the questionnaire. All experts and specialist in this field were studied as well as rural areas zoning of Guilan province (2935 villages). The non-probability purposive sampling method was used. The content validity was evaluated by Lavosh formula (0.86) and reliability by Cronbach's alpha method (0.88). For data analysis, expert choice and GIS software have been used.Findings: Based on the output of the used models, 49 points were proposed for fixed stations and 34 points for establishment of mobile stations. Also, equipment needed for each station and the radius of its useful range were calculated based on the maximum response time to the incident.Conclusion: According to the results, distribution of relief and rescue centers has not been done optimal with balanced access especially in rural areas. Therefore, fixed stations were suggested in villages with high risk aversion, and radius of their useful range was determined based on considerations of population density, activity and quality of the main routes. The considerable part of the initial risk areas, were not covered by functional stationary stations due to the lack of requirements for the fixed station construction. Therefore, in order to reduce the vacancy, it is predicted to create mobile and temporary station in some parts.

Background: Organizational culture is shaped by the organizational character therefore organizations can be identified in terms of their culture. Thus, a coherent culture with the goals and mission of the organization increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. However, this study aims to detrmine the organizational culture of Red Crescent society.Method: In this applicable and descriptive survey, all headquarter’s experts of Red Crescent society (about 250) were studied and about130 persons were selected by using simple random sampling. Data gathered based on standard questionnaire of Cameron and Quinn. Experts and scholars confirmed the content validity and reliability (0.89). For data analysis, descriptive statistics and Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Leven, means comparison, ANOVA and Tukey were used.Findings: The findings showed that culture market (competitive) achieved the highest mean score (2.78). Also, a significant difference was obsereved between the existing and desired organizational culture (16.317) based on paired t-test or dependent results (sig=0.05). Comparison of means represented the significant difference between average organizational culture and employment status of employees and also the significant levels for gender, education, employment status and work experience were 0.904, 0.678, 0.147 and 0.001 respectively.Conclusion: According to the results, a significant difference between the existing and desired organizational culture is observed. Also, items such as competitive culture, hierarchical culture, clan culture and specific cultural democracy in order of preference are bases for headquarters of the Society. In addition, further researches is needed to determine the current status of the organizational culture in other parts of the Society.

Background: This study aims to identify and assess the factors affecting the optimal implementation of strategic performance management in Alborz province Red Crescent society based on the balanced scorecard. Then, its strengths and weaknesses points were identified and some recommendations provided in order to improve performance.Method: In this descriptive survey, all staff of Alborz province Red Crescent society (about 65) were studied by using census method. The researcher made questionnaire was used for data gathering. In order to measure the reliability, Cronbach's alpha was performed by using SPSS software.Findings: Structural equation using partial least squares (PLS) was tested based on the literature, conceptual model by using modeling technique. However, load factor was higher than 0.5 for all indicators and represent the components' reliability. Also, the results showed that average of components such as learning and growth, internal business processes, financial and customer have a significant impact on strategic performance management respectivly.Conclusion: According to the confirmatory factor analysis for each indexes, there are enough attention to this indicator in the society and balanced scorecard components have a direct impact on optimal implementation of strategic performance management. Also, the results show that there is no significant difference between groups in terms of demographic.