A Mixed-methods Pilot Study of Disaster Preparedness and Resiliency Among Faith-based Organizations. Issue 2 (21st February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muller, Valerie M.; Burke, Rita V.; Berg, Bridget M.; Lin, Ann C.; Upperman, Jeffrey S.
• Is Part Of: Prehospital and disaster medicine. Volume 29:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2014-02-21
• Subjects: Emergency medical services -- Periodicals; Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1017/S1049023X14000120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-023X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="abs1" sec-type="intro"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Faith-based organizations represent a source of stability and are an established presence in a community. They frequently serve their community following disasters. They are not formally included or identified as a disaster resource; thus, there is an opportunity to increase the effectiveness with which faith-based organizations prepare for and respond to disasters.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs2" sec-type="general"> <title>Problem</title> <p>This pilot study aimed to assess perceptions of the level of disaster preparedness and resiliency among faith-based organizations as a first step in understanding how to improve disaster preparedness and resiliency among these organizations and their communities.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs3" sec-type="methods"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted with six faith-based organizations, one with a leader and one with a staff member. Frequency distributions of survey questions were obtained. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was supported by analytical software, ATLAS. ti.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs4" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>Results of the survey indicated strong social networks among congregation and community members. However, half of the members indicated that they did not socialize often with other races and other neighborhoods. Additionally, trust of other groups of people was generally low. Themes that emerged from qualitative analysis were: (1) perceived disaster preparedness and resiliency; (2) barriers to community preparedness and resiliency; (3) lessons learned from past disasters; (4) social services and networks; and (5) willingness to be prepared.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs5" sec-type="conclusion"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The results suggest that there is a need for interventions to improve disaster preparedness and resiliency among faith-based organizations.</p> <p> <mixed-citation id="ref" publication-type="journal"> <string-name> <given-names>V</given-names> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve"> </x> <surname>Muller</surname> </string-name>, <string-name><given-names>R</given-names><x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve"> </x><surname>Burke</surname></string-name>, <string-name><given-names>B</given-names><x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve"> </x><surname>Berg</surname></string-name>, <string-name><given-names>A</given-names><x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve"> </x><surname>Lin</surname></string-name>, <string-name><given-names>J</given-names><x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve"> </x><surname>Upperman</surname></string-name>. <article-title>A mixed-methods pilot study of disaster preparedness and resiliency among faith-based organizations</article-title>. <source>Prehosp Disaster Med</source>. <year>2014</year>;<volume>29</volume>(<issue>2</issue>):<fpage>1</fpage>-<lpage>7</lpage></mixed-citation>.</p> </sec> </abstract>