Earthquake relief: Iranian nurses’ responses in Bam, 2003, and lessons learned.

The author transcribed the tape-recorded interviews and the data were analysed using the method of latent content analysis. The analysis started by identifying the units of meanings that could be extracted from the statements, which were essential for participants’ experiences. It proceeded using line-by-line coding; codes were freely generated during repeated discussions between the researchers. Statements that were unrelated to the study were excluded. Codes with similar meanings were grouped into categories. The transcripts were reviewed in order to validate the codes and categories.

Qualitative, semi-structured interviews

The study included 13 Iranian Registered Nurses (IRNs) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing who had at least 2 weeks’ experience as RNs during the Bam disaster in the earthquake location. None had any personal experiences in disaster conditions and most of them were male nurses. All of them had more than 12 years’ clinical nursing experiences in different hospitals’ wards. The mean ages of participants were 36 years (ranging from 34 to 56 years). They went to the earthquake location voluntarily following the call for help by the nursing office of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education during the early moments following the disaster.

Data were collected by a series of semi-structured interviews conducted by the author (AN Nasrabadi). Permission for taperecording the interviews were obtained from each participant. The interviews lasted from 45 to 90 min. An interview guide was used and this helped to focus the interview. The interview guide was constructed according to the fundamental questions of interest for the study. At the end of each interview session, the researcher asked the participants to talk about anything they considered important in the earthquake situation. This could involve their personal experiences of the disaster or any additional comments about their experiences as a disaster nurse in Bam.

To explore Iranian Registered Nurses’ experiences in disaster relief in the Bam earthquake, Iran in 2003

Three general themes emerged: (a) the need for previously prepared practical protocols, (b) the need for qualified and real team working in the situation, and (c) the need to establish periodic comprehensive training programs in disaster relief nursing.

Participants were informed about the purpose and the design of the study, and were assured that participation was voluntary and that confidentiality would be preserved. Before the data collection took place, participants had formally accepted and agreed to participate in the study by filling consent forms. One of the authors (Mirzabeigi) is General Director of the Iranian Nurses Organization (INO). The analysis of nursing programmes in a disaster situation is important for INO to plan for a more effective nursing response in the same potential situations. Permission for taperecording the interviews was obtained from each participant and recoded tapes stored in the first author’s office using anonymous labels.

To explore Iranian Registered Nurses’ experiences in disaster relief in the Bam earthquake, Iran in 2003.In Bam Earthquake in Iran, the initial priorities in this event were to minimize avoidable further mortality and morbidity and provide acceptable health care for all people affected by this event. One of the most important requirements was to organize a disaster caring team, and to provide minimum care, which would prevent unwanted complications. This paper discusses the experiences of a group of nurses who were responsible for caring for people affected by earthquake in Bam during the early days following this natural disaster.