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. 2024 Jun 24;24(1):105.
doi: 10.1186/s12873-024-01026-6.

A model of the organizational resilience of hospitals in emergencies and disasters

Fatemeh Seyghalani Talab  1 , Bahman Ahadinezhad  2 , Omid Khosravizadeh  3 , Mohammad Amerzadeh  2
Affiliations

A model of the organizational resilience of hospitals in emergencies and disasters

Fatemeh Seyghalani Talab et al. BMC Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Background: In the health system, hospitals are intricate establishments that offer vital medical services. Their resilience plays a crucial role in mitigating the societal repercussions of disasters. A hospital must possess the capacity to withstand risks, preserve its fundamental structure and operations, and enhance its preparedness by augmenting various capabilities and promptly recovering from the impacts of potential risks. It enables the hospital to attain a heightened level of readiness. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a resilience model tailored for hospitals to navigate crises and disasters effectively.

Methods: This mixed-method study was conducted in 2023 in three phases: (1) Identification of the factors influencing the organizational resilience of the hospital, (2) Evaluation of the influential factors by an expert panel. (3) Following the standardization process, we administered 371 questionnaires to individuals, such as university staff managers and supervisors, nursing managers, and research unit managers. The sample size was determined by multiplying the components by 10, resulting in 360 (10 * 36). Therefore, we selected a sample size of 371 participants. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the causal relationships between variables. These steps were performed using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 22 software. Finally, we identified and presented the final model. We utilized AMOS 22 and applied the SEM to assess the correlation between the variables, with a significance level of 0.05.

Results: Findings indicate that the appropriate modeling identified five dimensions comprising 36 components. These dimensions include vulnerability, preparedness, support management, responsiveness and adaptability, and recovery after the disaster. The model demonstrates a good fit, as indicated by the X2/d indices with a value of 2.202, a goodness of fit index (GFI) of 0.832, a root mean square error of estimation (RMSEA) of 0.057, an adjusted comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.931, and a smoothed fit index (NFI) of 0.901.

Conclusion: Enhancing hospital resilience is crucial for effective preparedness and response to accidents and disasters. Developing a localized tool for measuring resilience can help identify vulnerabilities, ensure service continuity, and inform rehabilitation programs. The proposed model is a suitable framework for assessing hospital resilience. Key factors include human resource scarcity, hospital specialization, and trauma center capacity. Hospitals should prioritize efficient resource allocation, information technology infrastructure, in-service training, waste management, and a proactive organizational framework to build resilience. By adopting this approach, hospitals can better respond to crises and disasters, ultimately reducing casualties and improving overall preparedness.

Keywords: Disaster; Emergency; Hospital; Model; Resilience.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual Model of study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Demonstrates the methodology
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Factors for estimating the standard factor analysis of the primary model
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Factors for estimating the standard factor analysis of the proposed model
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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