It is becoming increasingly evident that women are affected differently from men before, during, and after disasters. This study aims to evaluate the safety, health, and privacy concerns associated with earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, focusing on the impact on women.

The study is a case study design within a qualitative research approach. The data obtained were evaluated using the thematic analysis method. In the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 survivors of the earthquake. The data were analyzed with MAXQDA analysis software.

The study revealed that women have various health and safety risks. The main themes include experiences related to health, safety and privacy issues, hygiene, and other problems. Lack of adequate privacy, security problems, lack of appropriate resources and specialized facilities, women’s menstrual difficulties, exposure to or witnessing violence, and issues related to being alone were found to be important themes.

The root causes of women’s vulnerability during disasters should be identified, and programs should be designed to reduce this vulnerability. Strategies and policies based on the needs of women should be developed to reduce their future vulnerability. Inclusion of women in decision-making processes will be effective in the development of gender strategies.

This study examines the scope and trends of empirical research on training activities for flood disaster response teams.

A scoping review, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, was conducted in June 2024 across four electronic databases and grey literature. The analysis included experimental and quasi-experimental studies published since 2005. An initial pool of 1193 studies was identified, 18 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis.

These studies revealed three key themes: 1) evaluation and improvement of operational procedures, 2) preparation of response teams, and 3) management of health-related issues.

The results highlight the limited availability of empirical evidence in this area, reflecting the relatively small number of studies focusing specifically on training activities for flood disaster response teams. However, research in this field has shown growth since 2010, with a notable integration of educational technologies in most studies. Key training topics include psychological first aid and the evaluation of operational plans. Given the increasing frequency and severity of flood disasters due to global warming, further research is essential to develop and implement effective training programs, enabling response teams to address such emergencies more efficiently and comprehensively.

This study aimed to validate and ensure the reliability of the Turkish version of the Vitality Questionnaire, which captures traits advantageous for survival, to aid in systematic preparations for future disasters and life challenges.

In this study, the Scale of Eight Personal Characteristics Related to Vitality was translated into Turkish by three language experts, validity and reliability analyses were conducted, and a pilot test was carried out with 30 participants. Subsequently, between February 1 and March 1, 2024, online data were collected from 523 individuals across Turkey who had experienced disasters.

The average age of participants was 24.09 ± 7.60 years; 72.7% (n = 380) were female. Among participants, 79.2% (n = 359) had experienced an earthquake, 65.1% (n = 56) a flood, and 47.4% (n = 9) a fire. Analysis of the Eight Personal Traits Scale showed the original 8-factor structure was retained, with all item factor loadings above 0.40 and an explained variance of 61.180%. Therefore, no items were removed, and the 8-subdimension structure was accepted. Factor loadings ranged between 0.34 and 0.83. Internal consistency, evaluated through split-half reliability, was found to be at an acceptable level.

The analysis and evaluations conducted in this study concluded that the Eight Personal Traits Scale Related to Disaster Vitality is a valid and reliable measurement tool for the Turkish sample in identifying personal traits in the face of disasters.

The study was conducted to assess the psychological resilience and stress symptoms in health care workers following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake.

The study was completed with a sample size of 313 health care workers who experienced the earthquake and was carried out in a descriptive and correlational design. The Sociodemographic Data Form, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS), and Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale-5 (TSSS-5) were used.

The study found that 39.6% of health care workers were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, 41.2% of participants considered leaving their jobs after the earthquake, and 79.9% reported a decrease in job motivation (slight or a lot). It was determined that there was a negative correlation between the participants’ BPRS scores and TSSS-5 scores (r:-0.523, P = 0.00).

In accordance with the findings of our study, it can be posited that traumatic stress symptoms diminished as the level of psychological resilience increased in health care workers who experienced the earthquake.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the perceived trauma levels of women at reproductive age after earthquakes on their menstruation cycle.

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between March 17, 2023, and April 17, 2023, after the earthquakes that happened in Turkey on February 6, 2023 and affected 11 cities. The study was conducted with 355 women. Data were collected using an online questionnaire form prepared via Google Forms. Data collection was performed using a Participant Information Form and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale.

According to the multiple regression analysis results, the significant predictors of perceived trauma levels after the earthquakes included the severity of dysmenorrhea (β-coefficient = 0.164, P = .007), characteristics of vaginal discharge (β-coefficient = 0.136, P = .027), and itching in the perineum (β-coefficient = −0.220, P = .001). These variables explained 12.4% of the total variance in the perceived trauma levels of the participants.

The perceived trauma levels of women after the earthquakes had significant effects on the severity of dysmenorrhea, characteristics of vaginal discharge, and itching in the perineum. Health professionals should not overlook the effects of women’s perceived trauma levels on their menstruation cycles after earthquakes and evaluate the issue considering these aspects.

The aim of the present scoping review is to provide a comprehensive description and classification of the published research studies on education and training of paramedics and paramedic students in the context of disaster management with emphasis on educational/training techniques and their efficacy and the recent trends in this evolving field. The review is also designed to identify the main research gaps and to suggest recommendations for future research plans.

PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were searched. Studies were included in the final analysis if they studied any aspect of paramedics or paramedic students’ education or training in the context of disaster management.

Forty-three studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Three themes were identified: 1) Conventional disaster education/training techniques; 2) Smart technology-based disaster education/training techniques; and 3) Development of and/or assessment of disaster education/training courses, programs, packages, or curricula.

While disaster triage training is the focus of many studies, a new trend is emerging that integrates smart technology into educational and training programs. Also, there is increasing international interest in developing disaster training programs and curricula.

In this study, the objective examined the contribution of pecha kucha technique instead of standard training in providing crisis management skills to nurse managers.

102 nurse managers participated in the study conducted with a quasi-experimental structure. Nurse managers participating in the study were divided into 3 groups as experimental, standard, and control, and each group included 34 nurse managers. Crisis management training was given to the experimental group with the pecha kucha technique, and to the standard group with the classical presentation technique. A crisis management scale was applied to measure crisis management skills before and after the trainings.

It was observed that crisis management scores increased in both groups after the trainings compared to the control group. When the scores of the experimental and control groups were compared, a significant difference was found (P < 0.05). The crisis management total and sub-dimension mean scores were higher in the experimental group than in the standard education group.

In line with these findings, it can be said that using innovative training techniques such as pecha kucha instead of standard training for managers or other nurses can increase their professional development and the quality of health care services.

Disasters experienced in the world and in our country in recent years have made it necessary for health professionals to have high levels of disaster response self-efficacy. Nurses, as an important member of the health care team, have a key role in disaster management, especially in disaster response. Therefore, it is extremely important for nurses to be ready for disaster response and to have high levels of self-efficacy in disaster response. This study was conducted to determine the disaster response self-efficacy status and related factors of nurses working in surgical clinics.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 127 nurses working in surgical clinics between June and August 2023. “Sociodemographic Data Collection Form” was used to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the nurses and “Of the Disaster Response Self-efficacy Scale” was used to assess their disaster response self-efficacy.

The findings of the study show that nurses working in surgical clinics have a high level of disaster preparedness. Previous on-duty disaster experience and feeling competent about disaster are positively associated with disaster response self-efficacy.

It may be recommended to provide evidence-based, high-quality, and up-to-date training programs at regular intervals to increase and maintain the emergency response competencies of nurses. The originality of this study is that it was conducted only with surgical nurses.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-earthquake and earthquake-related characteristics and post-earthquake trauma levels of individuals affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.

The study is in survey design, one of the quantitative research methods. The participants consist of individuals affected by the earthquake and staying in temporary accommodation centers (student dormitories) in Konya province. A survey including a personal information form and a scale for determining the Post-Earthquake Trauma Levels was administered face to face to 334 volunteer participants.

Adults aged 30-46, those trapped under debris, those injured in the earthquake, those who lost a family member, a relative, a neighbour or a friend, and those who received psychological support after the earthquake are in the risk group in terms of high post-earthquake trauma levels.

The findings reveal the groups in which the traumatic effects of earthquakes on adults are high. It is important to prepare intervention programs by considering the needs of these groups in psychosocial interventions to be carried out after the earthquake.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and job-related stress among nurses working in both central and district areas of Adıyaman following the earthquake. Additionally, we assess potential risk factors influencing both PTSD and job-related stress.

This cross-sectional study involved 332 nurses. The study considered several independent variables, including age, gender, marital status, place of residence, experience of family loss due to the earthquake, and workplace location. The dependent variables for the study were identified as post-traumatic stress disorder and job stress.

Of the nurses surveyed, 69% showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Notably, higher job stress scale scores were identified among women (P = 0.028), married individuals (P = 0.005), those with children (P < 0.001), those who were in Adıyaman during the earthquake (P < 0.001), and those who experienced family loss due to the earthquake (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between PTSD scores and job stress scores (r = 0.599; P < 0.001).

Given the bidirectional impact of PTSD and job stress, prompt and comprehensive interventions are essential for safeguarding nurses’ mental health and professional capacity following major events. These interventions should also consider other risk factors, such as female gender or experiencing a family loss.

On February 6, 2023, seismic activity struck Kahramanmaraş, with earthquakes of magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6. The study aimed to determine the effect of the presence of PTSD and its scores on hygiene behaviors.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Adıyaman, Türkiye, between September and October 2023. The study population comprised individuals aged 18 and above who had experienced the earthquake. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) scale was used to evaluate PTSD, and the Hygiene Inventory was used to evaluate the participants’ hygiene behaviors.

Females, those with lower levels of education, the unemployed, singles, those living in tents, individuals who lost a loved one in the earthquake, and those with PTSD had worse hygiene behaviors compared to other groups. In the multivariate model of linear regression analysis of hygiene total score, only the PTSD score retained its predictive significance for hygiene behavior. More than 50% of the participants had scores meeting PTSD. The total PTSD score and the prevalence of PTSD among women was notably greater.

Mental health plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals’ hygiene practices and behavior patterns post-disaster. Swift implementation of mental health interventions is crucial for the prevention of behavioral pathologies.

Conceptualizations of surge capacity are gaining traction in disaster preparedness and response, particularly in the context of critical and acute care during the pandemic as well as other disaster contexts. In most applications, the surge capacity domains describe the four types of assets required to ensure that surges in demand are addressed. Despite increasing interest and conceptual application, these constructs are yet to be considered or explored in relation to the profound resource scarcity and complex contexts of humanitarian health responses.

The aim of this research is to explore surge capacity domain constructs in the novel context of scarce health resource allocation in humanitarian health care response settings.

This research was conducted according to an exploratory qualitative design. Clinicians and managers with relevant experiences were purposively recruited to include broad perspectives across humanitarian responses and clinical specialties. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a latent deductive pattern approach, using a deductive code book consisting of existing surge capacity domains to explore surge capacity constructs. Analysis of coded data for cross-cutting themes drove identification of new findings regarding surge capacity in the context of humanitarian health responses.

Seventeen participants completed semi-structured interviews. In addition to demonstrating the relevance of existing surge capacity domains (staff, stuff, space, and systems; 4Ss), four new themes emerged: (1) sponsorship; (2) suitability; (3) security; and (4) supply. These four themes informed the conceptualization of surge capacity dimensions which must be satisfied for an asset to render a positive impact with relevance to all four surge capacity domains (4S2 - cumulative 4S domains and the new dimensions).

Although existing surge capacity domains have proven relevant to humanitarian health care response settings, this research produced a revised conceptualization of surge capacity constructs specific to this context. The identification of four surge capacity dimensions supported the conception and development of the Scarce Health Resource Allocation in Humanitarian Response Settings (SHARE-HRS) 4S2 model of surge capacity, thus offering a potential new tool to support humanitarian health response planning and evaluation.

Natural disasters can increase the risk of infection by severely disrupting access to basic needs, including clean water and sanitation. Hand hygiene, one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent infections, often becomes a challenge in such situations. The study focused on individuals living in temporary housing following the earthquakes in Turkey on February 6, 2023.

The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of hand hygiene practices and the factors affecting these behaviors among individuals affected by disasters.

Data were collected from more than 3,600 randomly selected participants living in container cities in four provinces: Adana, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Gaziantep. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to ensure a comprehensive understanding of hand hygiene behaviors. A detailed questionnaire was used to assess factors such as frequency of hand washing, access to water, and use of hygiene products. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted to explore individual and environmental factors influencing hygiene practices.

The results showed that although most individuals were aware of the importance of hand hygiene, several barriers, such as limited access to clean water, psychological stress, and a lack of hygiene supplies, hindered their ability to maintain proper hygiene. The frequency of hand washing increased slightly after the disaster, but challenges such as forgetfulness, time constraints, and skin irritation from inadequate hygiene products were common.

This study provides important insights into the prevalence of and factors influencing hand hygiene practices in post-earthquake container cities in Turkey. Findings suggest that although individuals have a basic awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, multiple barriers, including access to water, hygiene supplies, and psychological stress, significantly impact their ability to maintain proper hygiene practices after a disaster. This study highlights the critical need for continued education, improved access to hygiene supplies, and psychosocial support to sustain hygiene behaviors in post-disaster settings. By addressing both physical and psychological barriers, public health interventions can be more effective in reducing the risk of infectious diseases in disaster-affected populations. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of preparedness for future disasters by ensuring hygiene resources are readily available and individuals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to maintain hygiene under adverse conditions.

This study examines how post-disaster meal provisions evolve with shelter size and over time to better support evacuees’ dietary needs.

Analysis was conducted on 96 dietary assessment sheets from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, categorized by 3 shelter scales and time elapsed since the disaster. Differences in meal types and dish categories were compared using the Z test. Focus was placed on meal provision details and dietary considerations for vulnerable evacuees.

In the early stages, some shelters provided meals only twice daily. However, over time, boxed meals became more common, while the proportion of hot meal services decreased. Ready-to-eat foods-based meals predominantly consisted of “grain-based dishes” across all weeks and shelter sizes. Larger shelters tended to have fewer dietary considerations for vulnerable evacuees.

Continuous hot meal services may not be sustainable, suggesting a shift toward well-balanced boxed meals from vendors. Larger shelters faced challenges with unhealthy dietary behaviors and inadequate nutritional support for vulnerable evacuees. The findings can help municipalities develop concrete disaster nutrition plans considering disaster phase and shelter size.