Penelope Burns1, Kirsty Douglas2, Wendy Hu3, Peter Aitken4, Beverley Raphael5. 1. BMed, MPHTM, PhD candidate, ANU Medical School, Australian National University, ACT; Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Western Sydney University, NSW. 2. MBBS, DipRACOG, MD, FRACGP, Professor of General Practice, Medical School,@ Australian National University, ACT; Director, Academic Unit of General Practice, ACT Health Directorate, ACT. 3. MBBS (Hons), MHA, PhD, FRACGP, Professor of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW. 4. MBBS, MClinEd, EMDM, FACEM, Adjunct Professor, Public Health and Health Services, Queensland University of Technology, Qld. 5. AM, MBBS, MD, FRANZCP, FRCPsych, HonMD (Newc), FASSA, Emeritus Professor Population Mental Health and Disasters, Western Sydney University, NSW; Emeritus Professor Psychiatry, University of Queensland, QLD@Deceased 21 September 2018.
Abstract
METHOD: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with a purposive sample of GPs who had experienced disasters in Australia or New Zealand (NZ) between 2009 and 2016. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-eight GPs reported diverse and effective contributions to disaster-response efforts. Four main themes emerged: GPs responded spontaneously to contribute; GPs adapted their usual expertise to provide disaster healthcare; personal and professional challenges experienced were consistent across different types of disaster; and unlike Australian GPs, NZ GPs felt better integrated and valued in the broader disaster-response system. DISCUSSION: The results document GPs' roles and experiences in disaster healthcare and highlight how GPs contribute to meeting crucial healthcare needs in communities during and following disasters. Better defining, integrating and supporting GP roles in disaster systems is likely to improve disaster healthcare.
METHOD: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with a purposive sample of GPs who had experienced disasters in Australia or New Zealand (NZ) between 2009 and 2016. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-eight GPs reported diverse and effective contributions to disaster-response efforts. Four main themes emerged: GPs responded spontaneously to contribute; GPs adapted their usual expertise to provide disaster healthcare; personal and professional challenges experienced were consistent across different types of disaster; and unlike Australian GPs, NZ GPs felt better integrated and valued in the broader disaster-response system. DISCUSSION: The results document GPs' roles and experiences in disaster healthcare and highlight how GPs contribute to meeting crucial healthcare needs in communities during and following disasters. Better defining, integrating and supporting GP roles in disaster systems is likely to improve disaster healthcare.
Authors: Stephanie Davis; Leslee Roberts; Jane Desborough; Sally Hall Dykgraaf; Penelope Burns; Michael Kidd; Raglan Maddox; Lucas de Toca; Kamalini Lokuge Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2022 May-Jun Impact factor: 5.707