Disaster preparedness: A concept analysis and its application to the intensive care unit

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care Nursing

Background:

• Disaster preparedness is crucial for healthcare facilities, especially intensive care units (ICUs), to manage patient surges.
• The existing literature uses varied terminology to describe disaster preparedness in ICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the concept of disaster preparedness in relation to the intensive care unit.
• To critique the peer-reviewed literature on ICU disaster preparedness.

Main Methods:

• Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis method was employed.
• Searched healthcare databases including CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and ProQuest.
• Included English-language, peer-reviewed articles from January 2000 to April 2020.

Main Results:

• Eighteen articles were included in the concept analysis.
• Fourteen distinct terms were identified for ICU disaster preparedness.
• Space, physical resources, and human resources are interdependent attributes essential for disaster response.

Conclusions:

• The language surrounding ICU disaster preparedness is inconsistent in the literature.
• Adequate space, physical resources, and human resources are vital for effective disaster response in ICUs.
• Further research is needed to define optimal resource requirements for an all-hazards approach to ICU disaster preparedness.