Objective To examine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression for medical staffs who took part in rescue in the disaster area after Wenchuan Earthquake. Methods According to purpose sampling method, from June 12th to June 18th, we investigated the medical staffs in eight areas, and the total number was 500. The eight areas included Mianzhu, Deyang, Shifang, Chengdu, Mianyang, Pengzhou, Zitong, and Anxian. The survey tools were PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). After collecting all questionnaires, we divided 500 medical staffs into 2 groups, according to the fact whether the rescue was carried out in the disaster area or not. Results A total of 500 questionnaires were given to the subjects, of which 481 effective ones were collected, and the effective rate was about 96.2%. In addition, the prevalence of PTSD for overall was 23.3%, anxiety was 21.6%, depression was 49.9%, and the anxiety plus depression was 19.54%. At the same time, we found out the averages of PCL-C (48.29±29.90 vs. 34.76±18.03), PCL-C frequency (16.27±15.14 vs. 9.99±10.25), PCL-C severity (32.03±15.26 vs. 24.85±8.60), SAS primitive (37.39±10.35 vs. 32.22±7.61), SAS standard (46.73±12.94 vs. 40.27±9.51), SDS primitive (42.00±8.32 vs. 37.99±9.63), and SDS standard (52.50±10.39 vs. 47.48±11.92) were different. The medical staffs in the disaster area were under more severe conditions, and there were significant differences between the 2 groups. The prevalence of PTSD (28.52% vs. 16.59), anxiety (28.89% vs. 12.32%), depression (58.15% vs. 39.34%), and anxiety plus depression (26.67% vs. 10.43%) between the 2 groups was significantly different, and the disaster area was under severe conditions. Additionally, the prevalences at three levels within SAS and SDS were much higher in the disaster area. There were also significant differences. Conclusion The prevalences of PTSD, SAS, and SDS within medical staffs who took part in rescue in the disaster area after Wenchuan Earthquake are higher than in the non-disaster area. Therefore, we should work out mental intervention and rehabilitation project for medical staffs, especially those who took part in rescue in the disaster area. Finally, the medical staffs’ ability to copy with stress can be improved.
Shortly after the disastrous Wenchuan earthquake, a harmonious working environment for healthcare professionals both at home and abroad has been formed in West China Hospital, under an integrated managerial framework and working model. Four foreign medical teams consisting of over 70 professionals and foreign medical materials weighing about 8 tons have been accepted. This model may provide references for the reception of foreign medical teams during the emergent medical rescue for any unexpected event in the future.
Objective To provide a disaster triage method by analyzing the data of the hospital transferring casualties after Wenchuan earthquake. Method The data of the patients’ admission and hospital transferring in the West China Hospital were collected after the earthquake in two weeks. Moreover, the reason and the method of the hospital transferring were analyzed. Result In the first two weeks since the earthquake struck Wenchuan, the number of the available bed for earthquake patients in West China Hospital was 124 per day, but in the 2 227 earthquake patients treated, 1 181 patients were admitted. Comparing with the number of the total hospitalized, the percentage is 53.03%. The hospital was overloaded. After a reasonable hospital transference, the daily number of inpatients was stable and all the patients were treated sufficiently. Conclusion After a natural disaster, an effective administration transferring patients to suitable medical recourse should be performed, so that more right treatments should be given to more right patients in the right time and right place.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of occupational therapy by stages on the activities of daily living (ADL) in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients during Wenchuan earthquake. MethodsTwenty-six SCI patients during Wenchuan earthquake admitted into the People's Hospital of Mianzhu City from July 2008 to June 2011 underwent two-stage occupational therapy. The first stage therapy continued for three months and the second continued for three weeks. ADL was measured using the modified barthel index (MBI). ResultsThe MBI in SCI patients after first-stage therapy was 65.71±19.30, and the MBI in SCI patients after the second-stage therapy was 76.93±16.82. All MBI item scores during the second-stage therapy were higher than in the first stage therapy, and the ability of stool and urine control, and walking increased significantly (P<0.05). ConclusionEarly and continuous occupational therapy by stages can increase the activities of daily living in spinal cord injury patients during Wenchuan earthquake.
Objective To summarize our treatment experience for patients with chest injuries in “4•20” Lushan earthquake. Methods Medical records of 17 patients with chest injuries after 2013 Lushan earthquake who were admittedto the Department of Thoracic Surgery,West China Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis of chest injuries was mainly confirmed by medical history,physical examination,X-ray and CT scan of the chest. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Among the 17 patients,there were 14 men and 3 women with their age of 57.3±16.1 years. Results There were 12 patients (70.6%)with crash injury of heavy objects,4 patients (23.5%) with fall injury and 1 patient with road traffic injury. Chest injuries were skin and soft tissue contusion in 17 patients (100%),rib fracturein 15 patients (88.2%) including 1 patient with abnormal respiratory movements,pulmonary contusion in 15 patients (88.2%),hemopneumothorax in 11 patients (64.7%),sternal fracture in 1 patient (5.9%) and bilateral pneumothorax with widespread subcutaneous emphysema in 1 patient (5.9%). Thirteen patients (76.5%) had concomitant brain,abdominal,orthopedic or nerve injuries. One patient underwent left thoracotomy,clot removal and internal fixation of rib fractures for left coagulated hemothorax and left lower lobe atelectasis. All the 17 patients received timely and effective treatment and there was noin-hospital mortality. Conclusions Mechanisms of earthquake injuries are often complex,and patients often have multipleinjuries. The main types of chest injury are rib fractures and pulmonary contusion. Tube thoracostomy is a simple andeffective treatment strategy for them. Satisfactory pain management and bronchoscopy procedure can effectively help patientswith removal of respiratory secretions and maintenance of airway patency.
Objective To investigate the efficacy of interdisciplinary therapy in critically ill patients with gas gangrene in the 2008 W enchuan earthquake.Methods Four critically wounded patients with gas gangrene caused by Wenchuan earthquake were treated by interdisciplinary cooperation.Results Two patients received debridement and decompression were not amputated.Two amputated patients did not received futher amputation.Conclusions Interdisciplinary therapy of critically ill patients with gasgangrene in earthquake could limited the area of tissue necrosis,minimized the necessity of amputation and further amputation.
Earthquake emergency medical rescue evidence-based decision-making is a typical case of real-world evidence deriving from real-world data, conducting real-world research, and producing real-world evidence for solving real-world problems. This article focuses on the use of evidence-based science in the real-world through a problem-oriented, evidence-based decision making way, as well as transferring of results to practice and continuing outcome evaluation.
Shortly after Wenchuan earthquake, the administrative leaders of West China Hospital accurately defined the role of the hospital during the medical rescue work as the treatment center for the seriously wounded, the supporting center for the local hospitals/clinics of the disaster areas, and the logistic supporting center for medical teams from other provinces. Integrated leadership of management and with efficient multi-department coordination and cooperation were emphasized. The mode of the hospital was immediately transformed from the regular state into a double-track emergent state. Scientific allocation and dispatch of resources were ensured to meet the ever-changing demand from all levels of rescue work. Three stages were defined based on the conditions of the wounded delivered to the hospital, with different main focuses for each stage. Owing to the multi-disciplinary cooperation and concerted efforts of a large number of experts from other provinces or even other countries, effective and efficient medical rescue service has been offered to all the wounded. Up to June 2nd, 2?618 cases from the disaster area have been treated, of whom 1 751 admitted into the inpatient department, 1 135 seriously wounded, 127 admitted into the Intensive Care Unit, 1 239 underwent operations and 77 treated with hemodialysis, with an inpatient mortality lower than 0.7%. Moreover, even during such a period of time, the routine medical service has been offered as regular to patients other than the wounded in the disaster.
ObjectiveTo construct a health in all policies (HiAP) evaluation index system for earthquake-stricken areas based on national health policies.MethodsFrom April to December 2020, this study combined the methods of comprehensive review of relevant literature, on the foundation of the evaluation indicators pool was preliminarily constructed. The Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process were adopted to construct the evaluation indicators system in earthquake-stricken areas and analyzed the weights of indicators.ResultsA total of 5 first-level indicators (investment, action, short-term effect, medium-term effect, long-term effect), 15 second-level indicators, and 44 third-level indicators with satisfactory logical consistency of HiAP evaluation indicators system in earthquake-stricken areas had been constructed.ConclusionsThe HiAP evaluation indicators system constructed in this study can be used to comprehensively evaluate the implementation of HiAP earthquake-stricken areas.
ObjectiveTo analyze the state of rehabilitation after Lushan earthquake for improving the rehabilitation and personnel training system. MethodsFrom April 21st to May 5th, 2013, we collected data related to earthquake victims and the staff structure from West China Hospital, Leshan Downtown Hospital, Emeishan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Ya'an People's Hospital through interview and field investigation. ResultsTwo weeks after the earthquake, 25 220 victims received treatments in Sichuan Province, 6 545 surgeries were conducted, and 947 victims received postoperative early rehabilitation. A total of 392 victims received treatments in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, including 321 in-patients. In Leshan Downtown Hospital, Emeishan Hospital of TCM and Ya'an People's Hospital, the proportion of rehabilitation doctors reached 11.5% among all the doctors, the rehabilitation nurses reached to 8.6% among all nurses, and the rehabilitation therapists with certification reached to 4/5. ConclusionThe construction of the rehabilitation system and discipline, the cultivation of professional personnel, and popularization of rehabilitation concept are essential for development of rehabilitation in Sichuan province.