Document Type
Master's Culminating Experience
Publication Date
Fall 2013
Abstract
Objective: Gathering and analyzing information on experience, training, and professional affiliation of disaster responders who will deal with functional needs clients in general shelters. Methods: The web-based survey administered in June, 2012 to 165 local Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers and 72 public health workers was part of a larger study designed to assess functional needs flow processes in general shelters. Descriptive statistics and simple logistic regression were used to analyze data.
Results: The response rate was 16.5%. The percent of survey respondents that had any disaster, medical, or functional needs training were approximately 80%, 70%, and 40% respectively. The four major categories of respondents included: Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) 59%, Public Health 52%, and Nursing 27%. Most participants (68%) had assisted in at least one major event. The odds of having responded to a disaster than not was 2% (p=0.895) greater for the amount of professional experience, 43% (p
Conclusion: This study suggests that a change in disaster responder curriculum and professions as well as shifting socio-professional culture, to include functional needs will contribute to an understanding of the aspects of knowledge and training necessary for future disaster shelter workers to meet expected requirements for sheltering functional needs clients in general shelters.
Repository Citation
Fannin, A. K. (2013). Knowledge, Training and Experience of Emergency Responders in the Context of Functional Needs in General Shelters. Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
