Title: Field hospital site selection criteria: a Delphi consensus study

Authors: Mohammad Javad Moradian; Ali Ardalan; Amir Nejati; Ali Darvishi Boloorani; Ali Akbarisari; Behnaz Rastegarfar

Addresses: Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 644614155, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 644614155, Tehran, Iran ' Pre-Hospital and Hospital Emergency Research Center, Emergency Medicine Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 1419733141, Tehran, Iran ' Faculty of Geography, Department of Remote Sensing & GIS, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1417466191, Iran ' Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 644614155, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Disaster Public Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 644614155, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to survey systematically experts' opinion on field hospital site selection (FHSS) criteria in order to identify optimum locations for stockpiling them in preparedness phase of disaster management. Design: A Delphi consensus technique, directed by a systematic review of the published articles on the permanent hospitals site selection, is adapted. Results: A preliminary list of 40 criteria, obtained from a systematic review, was prepared. In the next stage, through expert panel review, only 15 criteria were considered appropriate for the FHSS. Thereafter, a panel of 44 experts consented to participate. In total, out of 15 generated statements, eight statements gained consensus in round 3. Conclusion: The application of 'expert Delphi technique' resulted in consensus in listing the main criteria for FHSS. The list would help policymakers to allocate optimum sites for maintaining FHs: thus increasing their efficacy.

Keywords: Delphi method; disaster management; field hospital; site selection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2018.097369

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2018 Vol.14 No.4, pp.377 - 386

Received: 04 Feb 2017
Accepted: 27 Jan 2018

Published online: 16 Jan 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article