Journal of

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Background: In case of disasters hospitals as one of the first centers to admit casualties need to be well prepared. This study aimed to determine the scale of preparedness of the hospitals located in the northern areas of Iran to deal with disasters.
Materials and methods: This applied and cross-sectional study was carried out in 2011. In this study all therapeutic-educational affiliated hospitals of Universities of Semnan, Shahroud, Mazandaran, Babol, and Guilan were investigated using the census method (53 hospitals). The data were collected using instruments were a managers' awareness Questionnaire (40 items) and a 141-item checklist which were filled using the self-assessment method. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and Mann-Whitney , Kruskal Wallis and Pearson correlation coefficient statistical test.
Results: The average score of managers' awareness of the disaster confronting Preparedness status was 41.89±9.12 and hospital`s preparedness to confront disasters was 56.88±5.12 which show a mediocre level in all hospitals studied. There was a significant relationship (P=0.007) between the awareness of managers and receiving training on management of disasters. The least score was related to field of planning for decreasing structural risks (40.56±29.4 ).Significant relationships were observed between preparedness of hospitals in different universities and management plans for unanticipated events (P=0.047), hospital training program (P=0.019), planning for supporting vital services (P=0.005) and environmental health measures to deal with unanticipated events (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Regarding the previous of disasters in the studied provinces and the mediocre preparedness of the hospitals, educational planning to confront disasters, strengthening the hospital buildings and organizing practical maneuvers will be effective in enhancing the preparation of the hospitals.

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Abstract Background: Several factors have an impact on hospitals` crisis preparedness including the status of “internal factor ”. This study is aimed to investigate the relationship between the status of hospitals `internal factors and their level of preparedness in crisis. Materials and Methods: This correlative, applied, and cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 hospitals of Kurdistan University of Medical Science in 2008. The data were collected using the standard Weisbord questionnaire and hospital preparedness checklist to measure the status of internal factors and the hospitals` level of crisis preparedness ,respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical methods. Results: Changing internal factors would result in 74% of the changes in level of hospital preparedness in crisis in all studied hospitals . The preparedness level and the organizational structure of the hospital had strongest relationship and preparedness level and personnel’s attitude to changes had the weakest respectively . Conclusions: Hospitals should analyze their internal factors status in order to improve their preparedness level in crisis. Concentrating on different aspects of internal factors, reviewing objectives, improving increasing teamwork, involving personnel in decision-making, using performance-based rewards, forming communication committee, improving leadership styles, training organization `s managers and leaders, and facilitating internal and external coordination could be effective .

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Background: Today, due to the diversity of organizational structure and culture, the diversity is one of the basic principle in crisis management.Crisis management consists of six components including flexibility, inclusion, trust, risk perception, adaptability and equity.This study aimed at investigating the managers' perception about components of crisis management in hospitals affiliated to Tehran and Iran University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional one. A questionnaire was used to collect data using five likert scale. Validity and reliability of questionnaire assessed by content validity and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Sixty six questionnaire were collected. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software using ANOVA and independent t-test.

Results: The highest and the lowest level of managers' perception were inclusion and equity(3.19 ± 0.51) and adaptability(2.73 ± 0.75), respectively. There was a statistical significant difference between crisis management components with gender and job type. The highest level of importance was regarded to inclusion and mutual trust between personnel and managers, and  the lowest level was related to flexibility in hospital crisis management .

Conclusion: Employees in diverse positions have different definitions of adaptability in crisis. It is necessary to perform further research and educate hospital manager’s duties.