Long-Term Impact of Disasters on the Public Health System

A Multi-Case Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID15510064
AuthorsNina Lorenzoni (0000-0002-2602-0056, UMIT - Private Universität für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Medizinische Informatik und Technik, corresponding author), Verena Stühlinger (0000-0001-8232-2174, UMIT - Private Universität für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Medizinische Informatik und Technik), Harald Stummer (0000-0002-0391-4583, Seeburg Castle University), Margit Raich (0000-0002-9540-4715, UMIT - Private Universität für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Medizinische Informatik und Technik)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue17
Pages6251-6251
Publication date2020-08-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17176251
PMID32867369
OpenAlexW3081028282
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited11

As past events have shown, disasters can have a tremendous impact on the affected population's health. However, research regarding the long-term impact on a systems level perspective is still scarce. In this multi-case study, we analyzed and compared the long-term impacts on the public health system of five disasters which took place in Europe: avalanche (Austria), terror attack (Spain), airplane crash (Luxembourg), cable-car tunnel fire (Austria), and a flood in Central Europe. We used a mixed-methods approach consisting of a document analysis and interviews with key stakeholders, to examine the various long-term impacts each of the disasters had on health-system performance, as well as on security and health protection. The results show manifold changes undertaken in the fields of psychosocial support, infrastructure, and contingency and preparedness planning. The holistic approach of this study shows the importance of analyzing long-term impacts from the perspective of the type (e.g., disasters associated with natural hazards) and characteristic (e.g., duration and extent) of a disaster, as well as the regional context where a disaster took place. However, the identified recurring themes demonstrate the opportunity of learning from case studies in order to customize the lessons and apply them to the own-disaster-management setting

Business · Computer security · Context (archaeology · Contingency plan · Emergency management · Environmental health · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Flood myth · Geography · Natural disaster · Natural hazard · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Population · Preparedness · Public health · Vulnerability (computing · Computer Science · Disaster Management and Resilience · Disaster Response and Management · Environmental Science · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access