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

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health Policy
• Disaster Risk Management

Background:

• Dust poses significant health, economic, and social risks across societal sectors.
• Health facilities (HFs) are vulnerable to the impacts of dust hazards.
• A structured mitigation plan is crucial for enhancing HF resilience to dust events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a comprehensive dust hazard mitigation plan specifically for health facilities.
• To integrate evidence-based strategies and expert consensus into a practical framework.
• To provide actionable guidance for policymakers and health planners.

Main Methods:

• A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design involving systematic review, qualitative interviews, and Delphi technique.
• Systematic literature review to identify existing dust hazard mitigation strategies.
• Qualitative content analysis of expert interviews and FEMA model application for plan development.

Main Results:

• Identified 601 articles, with 10 selected for review; synthesized 106 codes into 5 main themes from 23 expert interviews.
• Developed a 107-item checklist, refined to 58 items through expert consensus (Delphi technique).
• Formulated a strategic mitigation plan for dust hazards in HFs utilizing the FEMA model.

Conclusions:

• The developed plan offers strategies to prioritize dust hazard mitigation in HFs.
• Aims to support policymakers and health planners in creating effective risk management protocols.
• Emphasizes the importance of educational initiatives to enhance risk perception among HF staff and the public.