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Designing a Mitigation Plan for Health Facilities in Dust Hazard: A Sequential Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2025

Arezoo Sarani ,
Asghar Tavan ,
Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy ,
Seyed Mobin Moradi Open the ORCID record for Seyed Mobin Moradi [Opens in a new window] ,
Asma Abdollahyar  and
Hojjat Farahmandnia Open the ORCID record for Hojjat Farahmandnia [Opens in a new window]
Arezoo Sarani
Affiliation:
Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran
Asghar Tavan
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran
Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, The Australian College Rural and Remote Medicine , Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Seyed Mobin Moradi
Affiliation:
Health in Disasters and Emergencies Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran
Asma Abdollahyar
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Islamic Azad University, Zarand Branch, Zarand, Iran
Hojjat Farahmandnia*
Affiliation:
Health in Disasters and Emergencies Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Hojjat Farahmandnia; Email: hojjat.farahmandnia@gmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction

The phenomenon of dust is one of the natural hazards that can affect almost all sectors of society and has consistently had various health, economic, and social impacts in the affected areas. This study aimed to design a mitigation plan for Health Facilities (HFs) into dust hazard

Methods

This sequential exploratory mixed-methods study encompassed 5 distinct phases. It began with a systematic review to identify mitigation strategies for health hazards in dust, followed by qualitative interviews with 23 health-sector managers and specialists analyzed through conventional content analysis. The third phase defined the program’s dimensions and components based on findings from the first two phases. The fourth phase validated the proposed plan using the Delphi technique, and in the final phase, the FEMA model was applied to design the ultimate strategic plan.

Results

The systematic review identified 601 articles, selecting 10 for inclusion. Through expert interviews, a total of 106 codes were synthesized into 45 subcategories, 13 categories, and 5 main themes. By integrating the findings from the first 2 phases, a comprehensive checklist comprising 107 items was developed. During the Delphi phase, experts further refined this list, resulting in 58 finalized items, which facilitated the formulation of a mitigation plan for dust hazard based on a FEMA model.

Conclusion

The strategies and solutions detailed in this plan are intended to assist policymakers and health planners in prioritizing this hazard and developing educational protocols designed to enhance risk perception among staff and the populations served by health care facilities (HFs).

Keywords

mitigationplanhealth facilitiesdusthazard

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e306
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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