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Phuong J, Riches NO, Calzoni L, Datta G, Duran D, Lin AY, Singh RP, Solomonides AE, Whysel NY, Kavuluru R. Toward informatics-enabled preparedness for natural hazards to minimize health impacts of climate change. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2022; 29:2161-2167. [PMID: 36094062 PMCID: PMC9667167 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocac162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural hazards (NHs) associated with climate change have been increasing in frequency and intensity. These acute events impact humans both directly and through their effects on social and environmental determinants of health. Rather than relying on a fully reactive incident response disposition, it is crucial to ramp up preparedness initiatives for worsening case scenarios. In this perspective, we review the landscape of NH effects for human health and explore the potential of health informatics to address associated challenges, specifically from a preparedness angle. We outline important components in a health informatics agenda for hazard preparedness involving hazard-disease associations, social determinants of health, and hazard forecasting models, and call for novel methods to integrate them toward projecting healthcare needs in the wake of a hazard. We describe potential gaps and barriers in implementing these components and propose some high-level ideas to address them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Phuong
- University of Washington, School of Medicine, Research Information Technologies, Seattle, Washington, USA
- University of Washington, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Naomi O Riches
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Network, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Luca Calzoni
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gora Datta
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Deborah Duran
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Asiyah Yu Lin
- National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ramesh P Singh
- School of Life and Earth Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Anthony E Solomonides
- Department of Communication Design, NorthShore University Health System, Outcomes Research Network, Research Institute, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Noreen Y Whysel
- New York City College of Technology, CUNY, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Ramakanth Kavuluru
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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Abstract
Taiwan and New Zealand are both located in the Pacific Rim where 81 per cent of the world's largest earthquakes occur. Effective programmes for increasing people's preparedness for these hazards are essential. This paper tests the applicability of the community engagement theory of hazard preparedness in two distinct cultural contexts. Structural equation modelling analysis provides support for this theory. The paper suggests that the close fit between theory and data that is achieved by excluding trust supports the theoretical prediction that familiarity with a hazard negates the need to trust external sources. The results demonstrate that the hazard preparedness theory is applicable to communities that have previously experienced earthquakes and are therefore familiar with the associated hazards and the need for earthquake preparedness. The paper also argues that cross-cultural comparisons provide opportunities for collaborative research and learning as well as access to a wider range of potential earthquake risk management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ju Jang
- Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Work, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Jieh-Jiuh Wang
- Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Douglas Paton
- Professor at the School of Psychology and Clinical Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territories, Australia
| | - Ning-Yu Tsai
- Research Assistant at the Research Lab of Urban Design and Sustainable Development, Department of Architecture, Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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