Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly
Year:2024 | Volume:10 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Traumatic events may result in upsetting experiences that are typically fatal or seriously endanger physical or mental health. They include accidents, assaults, and natural disasters. Without prompt assistance, people are less likely to experience self-harm, anxiety, sadness, sleeplessness, or other psychological and behavioral problems following a traumatic event. Affected people may develop acute or post-traumatic stress disorder. The negative effect of traumatic events on mental health has been the subject of several studies conducted in Iran.

Background: Climate change has many effects on various aspects of human life, including health. Iran is highly vulnerable to climate changes, which can have a significant impact on public health. Therefore, this study aims to review the effects of climate change on public health in Iran. Materials and Methods: This systematic study was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysi (PRISMA) protocol and three steps of search, screening, and synthesis of selected studies. To identify related studies published from 2000 to 2023, online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MagIran, and SID) were searched using relevant keywords. Finally, we selected 52 eligible studies. The selected studies were screened to extract key information. Results: The direct effects of climate change included the increase in infectious, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, changes in women’s pregnancy patterns, and the prevalence of preeclampsia, skin cancer, pterygium, congenital hypothyroidism, and mortality. Indirect effects of climate change included the changes in reproductive patterns and the spread of insect-borne and human diseases such as malaria, brucellosis, leishmaniasis, human salmonellosis, cholera, bloody diarrhea, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), and COVID-19. Moreover, climate change had negative impact on the mental health such as increased mood swings, depression, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, and bipolar disorder. The results showed that vulnerability to climate change varies depending on geographical and demographic factors. Conclusion: Climate change has many adverse effects on the physical and mental health of Iranian people,therefore, the development and implementation of national strategies and programs to fight against them are essential. Despite studies conducted so far on the relationship between climate change and human health in Iran, there is still a need for further investigations, especially regarding the connection between climate change and people’s mental health.

Background: Earthquake is a natural disaster that threaten large parts of Iran. In addition to the preparedness of relief organizations, people should know how to protect themselves from possible damages. Tehran, the capital of Iran, is prone to earthquakes and citizens’ preparedness for possible earthquakes should be improved. This study aims to measure the safe emergency evacuation knowledge of citizens in Tehran, in case of an earthquake. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 602 residents of Tehran (all 22 districts) aged ≥15 years in 2022. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability to measure the knowledge of safe placement and safe evacuation. Results: The mean knowledge score of citizens was 8. 8 out of 20. The knowledge score was significantly higher in women than in men, in people under the age of 64, in those with higher level of education, in students/housekeepers and employed people, in people who had received relevant information from the educational programs prepared by the municipality and educational textbooks, and in those living in privileged urban areas. Nearly 25% of people had not received any education related to earthquake. Radio/TV programs and educational textbooks were the most common sources of information. Conclusion: There is a need to improve the knowledge of safe emergency evacuation during an earthquake among the residents of Tehran. In addition to formal education in schools/universities, citizens need appropriate training courses in other centers with the help of social media. Planning in this area should be attractive to motivate citizens to acquire more disaster knowledge.

Background: Many factors can affect the job satisfaction of nurses. One of these factors is personality traits. Since the disasters such as COVID-19 can also affects the job satisfaction, this study aims to investigate the relationship between personality traits and job satisfaction of Iranian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This descriptive/correlational study was conducted in 2021-2022 on 131 nurses working in military hospitals in Tehran, Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Data collection tools included a demographic form, the Neo personality inventory, and the Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 16. Results: There was a statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and personality traits of neuroticism (P=0. 02), agreeableness (P=0. 009), and conscientiousness (P=0. 005). The highest correlation was related to conscientiousness (r=0. 24), and agreeableness (r=0. 23). Extraversion (P=0. 07) and opennes to experience (P=0. 018) had no significant relationship with job satisfaction. Conclusion: Job satisfaction of nurses in the study hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic was at a moderate level. It is necessary for hospitals managers to pay attention to three personality traits of neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness in nurses to improve their job satisfaction, which can have a direct impact on the quality of nursing care.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main focus of studies was on physical impact of the disease, while psychological impacts were mainly neglected. Identifying the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population can help in planning and preparing for future pandemics. The current study aims to investigate the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study that was conducted online on 1735 Iranian people from April 21 to June 21, 2021. Perceived feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic were measured by Reynolds’s self-report tool. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics including chi-square test and independent t-test in SPSS software, version 22. The significance level was set at 0. 05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 34. 62±11. 86 years. The most frequent perceived feelings were boredom (n=764, 44. 0%), nostalgia (n=704, 40. 6%), worry (n=613, 35. 3%), and nervousness (n=591, 34. 1%). Females, younger people, unemployed people, unmarried people, and those living in the urban areas experienced significantly higher levels of negative feelings. Conclusion: The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Iranian people is high, particularly among female, unmarried, and unemployed people. Therefore, supportive and psychological interventions during the pandemic and psychological rehabilitations after the pandemic are needed.

Background: Flash floods can cause significant damage if people perceive them as low risk. Media plays a crucial role in improving risk perception. This study aims to survey the perceptions of residents in Yazd, Iran, about the performance of local TV during the flash flood in 2022. Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative study using a content analysis method that was conducted on 22 residents (14 males and 8 females) who had a history of watching local TV programs during the 2022 flash flood in Yazd City. They were selected by purposive sampling method until data saturation. The data was collected through a semi-structured face-to-face interview using open-ended questions about the news received from local TV regarding the flash flood in the city. Qualitative data analysis was done using Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Results: Data analysis led to the emergence of one main concept (information quality), five themes (time of broadcasting news, content of programs, trust in the media, and ability to increase social sensitivity), 12 sub-themes, and 48 codes. Conclusion: The effectiveness of local TV during the flash flood in Yazd is low due to incorrect weather predictions, insufficient risk emphasis, lack of prime-time broadcasts, generic messaging, and absence of news headlines. Addressing these issues can enhance people’s perceived sensitivity and response to flood warnings from the local TV.

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 caused significant changes in the lifestyle of older adults and developed psychological disorders such as anxiety. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between anxiety caused by COVID-19 and changes in the lifestyle behaviors of older adults in Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on 265 older adults covered by the comprehensive health service centers in Zanjan, Iran in 2022. They were selected using a convenience sampling method from among randomly selected comprehensive health centers. Data was collected using a demographic form, Bernardo’s coronavirus pandemic anxiety scale, and Kumari’s lifestyle-related behavior change scale. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, Mean±SD) were used to describe the data. Pearson’s correlation test was utilized to examine the relationship between the study variables in SPSS software, version 16. Results: All participants had severe anxiety (Mean total score: 22. 23+3. 47). The mean score for the non-somatic symptoms of anxiety (11. 55+2. 34) was higher than that of somatic symptoms (10. 67+1. 94). The mean score of changes in lifestyle behaviors indicated the occurrence of more unfavorable changes (-2. 38±7. 13). A negative and significant correlation was found between COVID-19-related anxiety and lifestyle behavior changes among older adults (P<0. 001). Conclusion: There is a negative and significant relationship between COVID-19-related anxiety (somatic and non-somatic) and changes in lifestyle behaviors (exercise/physical activity, eating habits, and sleep/rest) among Iranian older adults. Due to the possibility of similar pandemics in the future, it is necessary to provide educational, supportive, and counseling programs to them to improve their healthy lifestyle behaviors and control their anxiety levels.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused many challenges to various clinicians, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Remote rehabilitation or telepractice was widely used during this period as a convenient solution by many therapists who had no experience in this field. This study aimed to survey the lived experience of telepractice by Iranian SLPs during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify the benefits and disadvantages of this method. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis. Twenty SLPs participated in this study. They were selected using a purposive sampling method until data saturation was reached. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to collect information. Data were coded using MAXQDA software. After coding, the data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method, and the main themes were extracted. Finally, the trustworthiness of the data was measured based on Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. Results: Five main themes were extracted, including “remote rehabilitation platforms”, “increasing efficiency”, “advantages”, “difficulties”, and “special opinions about telepractice”. Although telepractice had many difficulties, its advantages led to its widespread use during the pandemic. Conclusion: SLPs in Iran used telepractice as a remote rehabilitation method during the pandemic. This method can be used in future pandemics, although it requires removing existing problems and creating the necessary infrastructure.