Preparedness of anesthesiologists working in humanitarian disasters.
OBJECTIVE
Many skills needed to provide patients with safe, timely, and adequate anesthesia care during humanitarian crisis and disaster relief operations are not part of the daily routine before deployment. An exploratory study was conducted to identify preparedness, knowledge, and skills needed for deployment to complex emergencies.


METHODS
Anesthesiologists who had been deployed during humanitarian crisis and disaster relief operations completed an online questionnaire assessing their preparedness, skills, and knowledge needed during deployment. Qualitative data were sorted by frequencies and similarities and clustered accordingly.


RESULTS
Of 121 invitations sent out, 55 (46%) were completed and returned. Of these respondents, 24% did not feel sufficiently prepared for the deployment, and 69% did not undertake additional education for their missions. Insufficient preparedness involved equipment, drugs, regional anesthesia, and related management.


CONCLUSIONS
As the lack of preparation and relevant training can create precarious situations, anesthesiologists and deploying agencies should improve preparedness for anesthesia personnel. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0;1-5).
Medical Simulation and Emergency Management Research Group, Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
Bernhard
B
Rössler
Peter
P
Marhofer
Michael
M
Hüpfl
Bernadette
B
Peterhans
Karl
K
Schebesta
D000328:Adult; D000533:Altruism; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004189:Disaster Planning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires