Barriers to Preparedness amongst

Emergency Medical Providers

towards Radiation Emergency

Prepared by:
Siti Hasliah Salleh and Nor Ashikin Mohamed Yusof
UTM Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 Introduction
Jeopardize physical &
psychological health &
safety, environment

Radiation emergency National

Rare, but
could possibly happen prioritized disaster

Potential sources of RE:

Manufactures, nuclear powered vessels, NSC Directive No. 20
research institutes, hospitals..
 Introduction (cont.)
Directive No. 20: National Policy
and Mechanism on Disaster
Management Relief
Response is the most critical stage.
prevent, or EMS must provide:
reduce the effects - Special emergency treatment in
hospital/site of emergency
Mitigation
service
- Ambulance, pre-hospital &
Plan how transportation service
Recovery Preparedness to
- Forensic service
respond - Psychological support….
build back
the Response
community … without delay!
provide emergency
assistance
 Conceptual Framework

(predict) Response
Preparedness
performance

Leadership
Protect worker S&H
Able Communicate & manage
Plan for & improve practice
information
Organization
Perceived efficacy Department
Willing Ready
Perceived threat Individual
Family
RWA framework for public health preparedness
 Methodology
Method: Descriptive study
Approach: Quantitative
Technique: Survey
Research
design
Zone: West Peninsular Malaysia
Hospitals: 4 government hospitals (Hospitals with
facilities using radioactive materials in medical
Research procedures)
population Respondents: Healthcare personnel in emergency
& sampling department (purposive sampling)

Data Barriers to preparedness: Rasch model

analysis (Winsteps)
 Findings (cont.)
Barriers to Preparedness

Level of preparedness:
Moderate (+0.61 logit)
 Findings (cont.)

Level of preparedness:
Moderate (+0.61 logit)

Barriers to preparedness:
 B19 – lack of knowledge on decontamination procedure
 B14 – lack of knowledge on RE response operation
 D10 – lack of training provided by department on RE response
 B1 – lack of skills on decontamination procedure
 C9 – fear that involvement in RE response operation could
jeopardize family’s health
 Conclusion & Recommendation

Improve quantity &quality

of training, drill, or exercise
on RE response Give emphasize to three
variables of preparedness
2 (RWA) in training programmes.

4
1
3
Strengthen
Evaluate level
preparedness phase
preparedness & identify
gaps from time to time
 Conclusion & Recommendation

Level of preparedness is
Preparedness is successfully
relatively below the expected
measured from the 2 level as they are affected by
perspective of responders’ 1 several barriers
ability, willingness, and
readiness to respond

3
Stakeholders must carry out the proposed
suggestions in order to lessen these barriers