Abstract

ASSESSMENT ON THE LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS ON MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT RESPONSE AMONG PHARMACISTS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Christabel Unoma Ogwezi*, Offor Peace Nwadinachi, Ifeanyichukwu Precious Ugochukwu, Nwofe Fidelis Nwangbo, Eguzoikpe Kelechi Paschal and Godwin Odey Olim

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The study assessed the preparedness of hospital pharmacists for Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI). Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) and outcomes depend on the resources of the admitting institutions and their preparedness, respectively. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 90 pharmacists working in a teaching hospital in Osun State, Nigeria over 3 months, where a 26-item self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 21). Results: Most (63.4.%) respondents were females, 26 (31.6%) were aged 256– 30 years, 42 (51.2%) had <10 years of working experience, 18 (22.0%) were NYSC/Intern Pharmacists, 43 (52.5%) were unit-based pharmacists.
Forty-one (50.0%) respondents said the institution has a disaster preparedness plan, 36 (43.9%) said there is a disaster plan specifically for the pharmacy department, 44 (53.6%) claimed that medications to stock are determined by hospital committee consensus, 32 (39.0%) said the pharmacy is involved in mock disaster preparedness every 6 months. Not up to half (41.3%) respondents know if the hospital pharmacy disaster plan includes quantities of medications to not only treat the community but also hospital employees. Thirty-eight (46.3%), 32 (39.0%), 31 (37.8%) 29 (35.3%) respondents agreed that analgesics, oral antimicrobials, rapid sequence inhibition agents (sedatives and paralytics) are available respectively for disaster events. Thirty-two (39.0%) respondents said the highest disaster plan included was for chemical disaster and 20 (20.4%) for natural disasters. Conclusion: Preparation for disaster preparedness was suboptimal based on pharmacy-specific disaster preparedness plan, clear cut description of the pharmacy department, and practice for mock disasters. This calls for immediate awareness to address these shortfalls through orientation, training, and retraining on preparedness for mass casualty incidents.

Keywords: Preparedness, Mass casualty incidents, Tertiary Hospital, Pharmacists Nigeria.