ASSESSING THE PREPAREDNESS RATE AGAINEST EARTHQUAKE RISK IN HOSPITALS AFFILIATED TO URMIA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES; 2011

The necessity for providing appropriate services in hospitals during an
earthquake is imperative that is needful comprehensive preparedness of hospitals. This study was
performed to assess the preparedness of hospitals affiliated to the Urmia University of Medical
Sciences against earthquake risk in 2011.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in all hospitals affiliated to Urmia
University of Medical Sciences that located in province centers. Data were collected using checklist
and the interview and observation existing documents. The data was Analyzed by SPSS 19 and using
Fisher's exact and Spearman correlation coefficient tests.
Result: From 8 surveyed themes, the highest level of preparedness against earthquake risk was in
management disaster plan and the least level of preparedness was in the planning efforts in the field of
environmental health. Results showed that six hospitals were located in very poor level, three hospitals
in poor level and one hospital in the middle level of preparedness against earthquakes risk. Overall
average mean of hospital preparedness against earthquakes was 20.07 percent. Based upon Spearman
correlation coefficient test, a statistically significant relationship was seen within the area of the
planning essential equipment and supplies and planning to support vital services (r=0.824, p=0.003).
Conclusion: Based upon the results, the overall level of preparedness rate of hospitals against
earthquake risk was assessed in the poor level. It is recommended while developing short term
educational programs in crisis management and continuing that implement, where possible retrofitting
non-structural hospitals to be considered as a priority