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Challenges of Emergency Medical Teams and Deploying a Field Hospital in the Aftermath of the Beirut Blast: A Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2022

Lara A. Hamdanieh Open the ORCID record for Lara A. Hamdanieh [Opens in a new window] ,
Milad E. Ahmadi Marzaleh ,
Abbas Y. Ostadtaghizadeh  and
Ahmad I. Soltani
Lara A. Hamdanieh
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Milad E. Ahmadi Marzaleh
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abbas Y. Ostadtaghizadeh
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ahmad I. Soltani*
Affiliation:
Iran-Helal Institute of Applied-Science and Technology, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Ahmad I. Soltani, Email: soltani.amd@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Objective:

The huge explosion that occurred at Beirut Port led to a high number of casualties. Consequently, 7 field hospitals (FHs) were deployed in Lebanon. The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges that emergency medical teams (EMTs) faced and explain the gaps at the national level related to deploying a FH.

Methods:

A qualitative study was conducted. To collect the data, semi-structured interviews were done with 8 key informants (5 from the FHs, 2 from Lebanese Army Forces, and 1 from Ministry of Public Health). In this study, purposive sampling was used and data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis and MAXQDA software.

Results:

Three major themes (logistical challenges, staff challenges, and coronavirus disease [COVID-19] pandemic) and 10 subthemes emerged for the challenges that EMTs faced. The gaps at the national level were categorized into 2 themes (absence of needs-based response and limited effective coordination between the host country and donor countries) and 5 sub-themes.

Conclusion:

Lebanon focuses on response rather than preparedness for disasters. EMTs that arrived didn’t meet the medical needs. Hence, there is a need to strengthen the national capacities and to ensure better communication and coordination between the disaster-affected country and the EMTs.

Keywords

Beirutchallengesemergency medical teamexplosionfield hospital
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e114
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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