Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Ian Cole

Abstract

Disasters cause several barriers to the provision of healthcare services in Jamaica. These include damaged infrastructure, reduced access to medical care and supplies, increased demand for healthcare services, and physical and psychosocial impacts on healthcare workers. It is not known how effective the Ministry of Health Procedures Manual No. 7, Disaster Management is and how healthcare workers in Jamaica perceive the effectiveness of the plan. The purpose of this study was to explore how healthcare workers in Jamaica perceived the effectiveness of the plan. The procedures manual requires collective actions by healthcare workers to be implemented successfully, and therefore collective action theory was used as the study’s foundation. The research questions were used to inquire about healthcare workers’ perception of the use, effectiveness, revision, and experiences with the plan. The generic qualitative methodology was selected as the research design. Data collection was conducted electronically with 15 healthcare workers in Jamaica using a semistructured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study results indicated the participants agreed that the plan was effective and the government should review the document and continue to use it. However, participants suggested that more emphasis be placed on training, orientation, the plan review process, and dissemination of the document. The study results may be used to enhance health disaster management planning in Jamaica. Improved health disaster planning will positively impact healthcare workers and those requesting healthcare services, resulting in positive social change.

Download

Share

 
COinS