A Qualitative Study on the Use of the Hospital Safety Index and the Formulation of Recommendations for Future Adaptations

Hamdi Lamine (), Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo, Prinka Singh, Naoufel Chebili, Chekib Zedini, Nebil Achour, Martina Valente and Luca Ragazzoni
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Hamdi Lamine: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università Del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università Del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Prinka Singh: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università Del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Naoufel Chebili: Ibn El Jazzar Medical Faculty of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4002, Tunisia
Chekib Zedini: Ibn El Jazzar Medical Faculty of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4002, Tunisia
Nebil Achour: School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Martina Valente: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università Del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Luca Ragazzoni: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università Del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: The Hospital Safety Index is a tool developed by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization in 2008 and updated in 2015. Although it is the most widely used instrument of its kind to assess the level of hospital preparedness, scientific literature on its application in real life is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the use of the Hospital Safety Index to assess disaster preparedness in healthcare facilities. A retrospective, qualitative study employing semi-structured online interviews was conducted to gather the opinions and perspectives of professionals who have experience in applying the Hospital Safety Index. Authors of scientific publications using the Hospital Safety Index were recruited. A semi-structured interview guide was developed. It addressed different phases of data collection with the Hospital Safety Index, the challenges and facilitators of using it, and recommendations for future adaptations. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Nine participants who were from three countries (Serbia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia) and had different professional backgrounds (medical doctors, engineers, spatial planners, etc.) participated in this study. A total of 5 themes and 15 subthemes emerged during data analysis. Most of the participants reported their reasons for choosing the Hospital Safety Index as being its comprehensiveness and the fact that it was issued by the World Health Organization. The tool appears to be very specific and allows investigators to spot details in hospitals; however, it is not easy to use, and training is highly encouraged to learn how to navigate the different components of the tool. Governmental support is a crucial facilitator for investigators to be able to enter hospitals and conduct their evaluations. Overall, the tool has a lot of potential, and it should be used to reach a broader audience, such as community members, and assess the preparedness of other facilities that can take part in the response to disasters (hotels, stadiums, schools, etc.). Nevertheless, it still needs more adaptations to be tailored to different contexts and settings.

Keywords: Hospital Safety Index; disaster preparedness; World Health Organization; hospitals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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