Medical relief personnel in complex emergencies: perceptions of effectiveness in the former Yugoslavia.
Humanitarian medical assistance and intervention during the civil war in Bosnia and Croatia was felt by national health workers to be relatively ineffective (2.8 on a 5-point Likert scale), compared to other forms of humanitarian assistance such as medical supplies (4.4/5) and non-medical materials (3.9/5). Bosnian physicians treating civilians noted that the most helpful types of personnel were surgeons and emergency physicians. This study suggests that assessment of personnel needs at the recipient level, in addition to standard relief assessments, is required early in models of complex emergencies. This study supports existing epidemiological models of complex emergencies, especially when high trauma-related mortality and morbidity are likely to occur.
VanRooyen
M J
MJ
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Center for International Emergency Medicine Studies, 1830 E. Monument St., Suite 6-100, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. mvanrooy@jhmi.edu
Eliades
M J
MJ
Grabowski
J G
JG
Stress
M E
ME
Juric
J
J
Burkle
F M
FM
D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D017523:Croatia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006295:Health Resources; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014857:Warfare