Experiences and lessons learned in the field of health in the 2023 Turkish earthquake: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: In accidents and disasters that cause injuries and illnesses to the affected people, quick and appropriate medical response, correct triage, evacuation/transfer and controlled distribution of the injured and patients by the local medical management system are important factors influencing the clinical situation. Providing effective services during the golden time of responding to accidents and disasters to patients and injured people, the most important goal is to quickly send health response teams to the area affected by the disaster. The present study was conducted to extract the experiences and lessons learned in the field of health in the earthquake of Turkey 2023. Methodology: This is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach; which was conducted through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and observations. The target community included the army's healthcare team and the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 2023 earthquake in Turkey. The interview and data collection guide were developed using the recommendations of the World Health Organization Office of Risk Reduction in Mass Casualty Incidents. Data collection continued until data saturation. Various strategies were used to increase the validity and reliability of the results of this research. Findings: Extracting experiences and lessons learned in the field of health in the earthquake of Turkey in 2023; after conducting 26 interviews and data saturation, was reached. The obtained data were divided into 8 categories and 47 sub-categories. Categories include; Response operations, international aid, social partnership, disease care system, planning and response to health emergencies, environmental health, communication and cooperation, coordination, leadership, and control in health operations. Conclusion: This study presented the experiences and lessons learned of the health, relief, and treatment teams of the army and the Red Crescent Society of Iran. Rapid response teams in the field of health must be prepared because they may face challenges in the response process in international missions. It is suggested to use several components extracted from this study to provide effective medical services and prevent challenges in the response phase of similar incidents and disasters.