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Assessment of Psychological Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies in Educational–Medical Centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2025
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Vida Taghikhani   , Mohsen Dowlati , Shandiz Moslehi * |
| Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Moslehi.sh@iums.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (69 Views) |
Background and Aim: Given Iran's location in high-risk areas and its history of natural and human-made disasters, evaluating the psychological preparedness of educational–medical centers to respond to emergencies is essential. This study aimed to assess the psychological preparedness of educational–medical centers under Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2025.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included all middle and operational managers of 11 educational–medical centers under the university, with a census sampling approach. Data were collected using Checklist “Tool No. 6” from the book National Tools for Health Assessment in Disasters and Emergencies.
Results: Overall, the psychological preparedness of the centers was at a moderate to low level. For the “organizational structure and command chain” indicator, 72.7% of centers scored zero and 27.3% scored one. In “resources and infrastructure,” 18.2% scored zero, 72.7% scored one, and 9.1% scored two. Indicators of “knowledge and skills,” “coordination with external organizations,” and “risk assessment and monitoring” were mostly at weak to moderate levels. The lowest scores were observed in “psychological support and interventions” and “information exchange and communication,” indicating weaknesses in structured psychological support programs and inefficient communication systems during disasters.
Conclusion: Many educational–medical centers lack adequate psychological preparedness. To enhance both psychological readiness and operational performance, it is necessary to develop infrastructure, strengthen specialized training, improve communication networks, establish psychological support teams, enhance intersectoral coordination, and implement continuous risk monitoring and evaluation systems. |
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| Keywords: Psychological preparedness, Disaster management, Educational-medical centers, Psychological support |
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Full-Text [PDF 443 kb]
(55 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Marine Medicine
Received: 2026/01/24 | Accepted: 2026/04/23 | Published: 2026/04/30
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