Designing a Mitigation Plan for Health Facilities in Dust Hazard: A Sequential Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

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).