This study aimed to investigate the individual characteristics of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and its association with mental health symptoms among Chinese college students during COVID-19.

In total, 86,767 students completed the online survey in Guangdong province in June 2021. Data collected including socio-demographic and COVID-19-related information, IU, and mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation). Latent profile analysis was used to classify IU subgroups. Logistic regression was used to identify IU risk factors.

Four IU subgroups were identified, named low IU (n = 9,197, 10.6%), medium-low IU (n = 25,514, 29.4%), medium-high IU (n = 38,805, 44.7%), and high IU (n = 13,251, 15.3%). Scores of mental health symptoms varied from the degree of IU in the latent profiles. Mental health status was the worst in the high IU group. In addition, females, freshmen, and those perceiving more impacts from COVID-19 and spending longer time surfing COVID-19 information online were at risk of high IU.

Our findings showed that individuals differ in the total degree of intolerance of the uncertainties. Students with high IU were associated with worse mental health symptoms. Thus, taking actions to target individuals with high IU and developing their adaptive coping strategies are imperative during pandemics.

This review aimed to map the main ethical tensions experienced by health workers in low- and middle-income countries during infectious disease outbreaks.

We conducted a critical interpretive review of qualitative research studies. After searching 3 databases, 4445 articles were exported to Rayyan, deduplicated, and screened for eligibility. Of the 98 articles retained for full review, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted to an Excel spreadsheet and key ethical tensions were identified using a descriptive content and thematic analysis approach.

Twenty-three of the studies focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and two addressed Ebola epidemics. Three major ethical tensions were experienced by health workers, which involved conflicts between their professional duty to patients, colleagues, and communities, as against their concerns for personal safety, the well-being of their families, and facing stigma and discrimination. Secondary tensions arose when health workers seeking to manage these primary ethical tensions experienced further uncertainty about whether to disclose information about their professional roles with family members or community.

Ethical tensions are unavoidable during contagions, and may be amplified due to structural features. Authorities must take steps to support health workers as they navigate ethical tensions during localized epidemics or global pandemics.

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

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.

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.

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).

To comprehensively investigate the factors associated with tsunami evacuation after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE).

This cross-sectional study conducted a baseline survey between 2013 and 2016 and included 15,935 participants. The participants were asked to self-report whether they had evacuated after the GEJE and their basic characteristics, as well as their socio-behavioral, physical, lifestyle, and mental factors. The objective variable was the presence or absence of tsunami evacuation after the GEJE, and the explanatory variables were comprehensively explored with reference to previous studies.

Factors associated with the promotion of tsunami evacuation included being a woman, age 30-39 years, working, damage to houses, and participation in tsunami or earthquake evacuation drills before the GEJE. Factors associated with the inhibition of tsunami evacuation were over 60 years of age, higher education, living in areas unaffected by the GEJE, having a spouse, living with many cohabitants, having pets such as dogs or cats, and a high level of physical activity.

This study demonstrates the necessity of enhancing the evacuation processes of older adults, cohabitants, and households with pets. It is important to conduct evacuation drills and hold discussions about disasters within families and households.

As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, healthcare organizations are tasked with ensuring both operational continuity and workforce wellbeing. This study examines the preparedness, response, and recovery efforts of a nationally ranked children’s hospital in the southeastern United States during the 2024 hurricane season, focusing specifically on the experiences of advanced psychology trainees.

Doctoral and postdoctoral trainees (N = 9) completed a brief anonymous survey examining departmental and organizational hurricane preparedness strategies and response following two successive hurricanes.

Results revealed variable engagement of trainees with preparedness materials and increased distress with threat of the second storm. Communication from training directors was identified as a key support factor, with trainees preferring personalized updates over broader organizational messaging. While most trainees reported their long-term career decisions are unlikely to be impacted by their hurricane experiences, one-third noted that geographic risk may influence future professional choices.

Findings highlight the importance of integrating disaster preparedness into training programs and underscore the need for tailored supports to promote psychological resilience during times of uncertainty. Limitations and recommendations for future multi-site, multi-informant, mixed-methods research are discussed to inform best practices in disaster preparedness for healthcare trainees.

Despite growing research on disaster-related health impacts, pregnant individuals remain understudied. This study explores the sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant women affected by Hurricane Harvey.

A cross-sectional analysis of 4,951 pregnant individuals (511 directly impacted) was conducted to identify predictors of disrupted healthcare, financial loss, and mental health outcomes.

Social and structural vulnerabilities significantly influenced disaster impact. Pregnant individuals who were foreign-born racial/ethnic minorities (16.7% non-Latinx Black, 10.2% Latinx vs. 8.3% non-Latinx White), low-income (13.0% vs. 8.0%), less educated (12.5% vs. 7.6%), reliant on public healthcare (81% vs. 33.5%), or with limited maternity care access (11.4% vs. 54.8%) were disproportionately affected (all p < 0.001). Conversely, post-disaster anxiety was more common among U.S.-born (14.8% vs. 8.0%), college-educated (19.0% vs. 9.8%), and higher-income individuals (21.2% vs. 7.9%) (all p < 0.01).

Disadvantaged pregnant populations face greater disruption during disasters, while those with fewer vulnerabilities may experience more prolonged anxiety.

To provide an up-to-date review of existing and current literature in the field of radiological and nuclear disasters to support the needs of research applications for health care and public health preparedness and response.

A systematic literature search using 4 databases to identify articles which included a multitude of topics relevant to preparedness for nuclear and radiological disasters. One hundred articles that met inclusion criteria were summarized into 7 themes addressing medical and health care preparedness for nuclear and radiological events.

The review generated evidence supporting and defining various measures health care and government entities can take to improve nuclear and radiological disaster readiness and responsiveness in health systems. Strengthening preventive measures and policies, prehospital and hospital mechanisms, training and education, regional collaboration, communication, and infrastructure support were the main gaps identified.

An overarching concern regarding the inadequacies of the modern health care system’s radiological disaster preparedness was a clear-cut conclusion from the literature. The major challenges and proposed solutions for public safety to the growing threat of radiologic disasters were identified.

This study examined the health-related issues and proposed solutions among residents who returned or migrated to Namie in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, after the evacuation order following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident was lifted. Moreover, this study assessed vulnerable groups comprising individuals who faced difficulties obtaining health services.

This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 participants who lived or worked in Namie. A thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview data.

The results revealed four themes regarding prioritized health-related issues: poor lifestyle habits cause disease, mental health, inadequate medical and nursing care systems, and social isolation and issues with social relationships in the community. Likewise, four themes were identified for solutions: measures to improve lifestyle habits, enhancement of medical and nursing services, revitalization of community and social relationships, and provision of personalized care and support. Additionally, seven groups that had difficulty accessing health services were identified.

The findings suggest that comprehensive individual support is required during the long-term recovery phase after nuclear disasters to meet the health needs of vulnerable groups.

This research evaluated Australian governmental disaster inquiries to identify evidence of application of the social determinants of health within their recommendations.

An analysis was conducted of recommendations from published Australian disaster inquiry reports between 2007 and 2020 against the Social Determinants of Health framework’s three overarching principles of action as described by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2005-2008.

Between 2007 and 2020, eight disaster inquiries were conducted, yielding 612 recommendations. Of these reports, 120 recommendations (19.6%) showed alignment with the social determinants of health principles of action. Of these, 48 recommendations (7.8%) demonstrated action on overarching recommendation “Improve daily living conditions”; 59 recommendations (9.6%) demonstrated action on overarching recommendation “Tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money, and resources”; and 13 recommendations (2.1%) demonstrated action on overarching recommendation “Measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action.”

This low alignment underscores a critical gap in current Australian disaster inquiry practices, which historically prioritize emergency management and response over holistic health outcomes. There are opportunities to examine what roles the social environment and public health practice have in shaping disaster management policy and practice in ways that are conducive to strengthening more healthy, resilient societies.

To describe the results of the Federal Center for Disaster Medicine field hospital work in an outpatient setting in Aleppo, Syria, during the delayed period after the earthquake (from days 33 to 67) for 35 days.

A retrospective analysis of routinely collected patient data from March 10 to April 13, 2023, was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient demographics, disease spectrum (according to ICD-10), and procedures.

6812 patients were examined and consulted by various specialists. Of all patients, 40.6% were under the age of 18. In adults, the most commonly diagnosed conditions were diseases of the musculoskeletal system (27.1%), eye diseases (12.0%), circulatory diseases (10.1%), and respiratory diseases (10.0%). Among children, the most common reasons for admission were infectious diseases (68.9%), with respiratory tract infections being the most frequent (48.0%). Surgical interventions were performed in 150 cases; 61 patients required hospitalization.

During disasters, the needs of the population for various types of medical care vary significantly. The main causes of variability, in our opinion, are the time period of work from the disaster onset; the situation in the country and in the healthcare system, preceding the disaster; the climatic conditions during work; and the local endemicity of diseases.