Abstract
Purposes: The purposes of this study are (a) to clarify the state of preparation for public health activities in times of disaster in terms of organizational framework setting, preparation of manuals, and other areas to be pursued by each local government: (i) prefectural governments, (ii) cities in which public health centers (PHC-established cities) are located, and (iii) other municipalities (cities, towns and villages); (b) to make clear what is in the preparation for the local government related to the “implementation of training on public health activities in the event of a disaster”.
Method: In published literature, the activity areas of which everyday preparation efforts would help actual public health services operate effectively in the event of disaster were chosen. In order to collect information on the progress of preparation in the identified areas, the questionnaire survey was prepared, covering supervisory public health nurses stationed in each local government—prefectures, PHC-established cities, and general municipalities, as well as those working at PHCs. The questionnaire was mailed to be completed by the public health nurses on their own. For analysis, responses were classified into three types by response source: (i) prefectural governments and prefectural PHCs, (ii) PHC-established cities, and (iii) other general municipalities. After an adjustment based on the type of the local government, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted using the dependent variable of “whether training is carried out for public health activities in preparation for disasters or not.”
Results: A total of 1,159 answers were received (response rate: 51.1%). The general local governments showed a lower implementation ratio than prefectures and PHC-established cities in terms of (i) sending health care section personnel to disaster response headquarters, (ii) preparation of relevant manuals, (iii) cooperation with other sections in the organization or medical associations, and (iv) implementation of education and training. The PHC-established cities and general municipalities are almost the same in terms of the preparation and management status of those in need of support for evacuation. It has also been found that the implementation of public health activity training in preparation for disasters is closely related to nine points, including (i) determination of the approximate timing of the termination of support from health and medical service teams, (ii) availability of opportunities for doctors' organizations and pharmacists' associations to discuss disaster relief measures, and (iii) dispatch of personnel to training sessions.
Conclusion: Preparedness in public health services for disasters is less progressed in other cities, towns, and villages than in other local entities. In the “implementation of training on public health activities in the event of a disaster”, preparations for disasters, such as “cooperation with related organizations”, “examination of the support system”, and “lectures” were related.
