title: [Assessment of community health care services delivery during operation "Cast Lead"--a cross sectional survey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  On December 27th, 2008, the Israeli Defense Forces initiated operation "Cast Lead", aiming to strike the infrastructure of the terror organizations in the Gaza Strip. An emergency situation was declared on the home front, allowing the security forces special jurisdiction over the area. The Home Front Command's Medical Operation Center, in cooperation with the Superior National Health Authority of the Ministry of Health, coordinated the delivery of community health services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the delivery of community health services to the Israeli civilian population living in proximity to the Gaza Strip during operation "Cast Lead".
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone household survey was initiated on the 20th day of the operation until two days after a cease-fire was declared. The sample was drawn from the Jewish population living within a radius of 40 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Questions included the need and use of health care services, satisfaction with health care services and demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 901 interviews were conducted. Findings revealed that: 91.3%, 76.2% and 89.6% of those who needed primary physician, a specialist or a renewal of a drug prescription received these services, respectively; 87.1% of those who needed medical emergency services received them. The reported satisfaction with health care services during the combat period was very high; 91% reported high or very high satisfaction with their HMO's function during that period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The delivery of community health care services during operation "Cast Lead" efficiently addressed the needs of the population in the area. The delivery of medical emergency services and the access to medical specialists should be reassessed. It is important to plan ahead surveys such as the survey described above, and to cooperate with the HMO's and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in order to improve emergency preparedness.
authors.affiliation: Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health. drsavyon@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savyon
authors.forename: Lital
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keinan-Boker
authors.forename: Teena
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Enav
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rozentraub
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laor
authors.forename: Tamy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shohat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone; D023481:Terrorism; D055815:Young Adult