After Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, West China Medical School/ West China Hospital of Sichuan University organized a youth volunteer team for earthquake rescue and relief. A volunteer network was formed and relevant service regulations were formulated immediately. Volunteers have played an important role in post-earthquake evacuation of patients, emergency reception, ward care, on-call service, a service to help people find family members, telecommunications and some other major tasks.
Objective To provide references for production and dissemination of evidence in the fields of medical emergency management, treatment, and prevention of epidemics after May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake by systematically reviewing, analyzing, and comparing quake related papers in medical journals. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature) databases (range: from inception to Sept. 2009). Quake related papers were imported into EndNote software, checked for duplication, and categorized by predefined standards. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0. Results There were relatively fewer quake related articles globally before the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake, and the quantity of papers in MEDLINE was four times than that in CBM. In contrast, the quantity of Chinese quake articles increased rapidly after Wenchuan earthquake, peaking in Aug. 2008 at 6.9 times the average during the 50 years before the quake. The quake related papers in CBM appeared in 378 journals covering a diverse range of subject matter. Meanwhile, there was little change in the quantity of quake related articles in MEDLINE database. Conclusions The effort of producing and disseminating Wenchuan earthquake related medical research has been effectively organized and conducted in a scientific and timely manner, producing the largest in number of quake related medical papers in human history. It has provided first-hand guidance for disaster medical relief around the globe. We should strengthen the systematic construction of disaster medicine, and make an effort to summarize and disseminate evidence in the fields of rehabilitation, system reestablishment, and prevention of epidemics.
Objective To investigate the quality of life (QOL) of Beichuan cadres 1 year after Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide references for promoting psychological intervention and improving QOL. Methods With the adoption of WHOQOL-BREF, questionnaire survey on basic conditions of cadre victims, and PCL-C scale, cross-section survey was conducted for 2 055 cadres of Beichuan public institutions in aspects of their QOL, social demographic characteristics and psychological trauma. Results a) Compared with domestic norm, although the Beichuan cadres had higher score in social relation domain (14.31 ± 2.59, Plt;0.01), their QOL scores in each dimensions (physical domain score: 14.16 ± 2.43; psychological domain score: 13.79 ± 2.59, environmental domain score: 11.20 ± 2.74) were lower with significant difference (Plt;0.01); b) The group with population under the age of 30 scored higher than other age groups in the psychological and environmental domains; men scored higher than women in the psychological domain; the widowed group scored lower than other groups in all domains; the Han nationality group scored higher than the Qiang nationality group in all domains; the primary education group scored lower than other groups in the social relation domain; the group with relatives, houses and physical loss or damage scored lower than the non-loss group in all domains; and the higher the score in PCL-C, the lower the scores in all domains (all Plt;0.05). Conclusion Beichuan cadres are severely affected in their physical, psychological and environmental domains even one year after Wenchuan earthquake, especially the female, the Qiang nationality, the old, the lost, and the psychological injured cadres are more badly affected with worse QOL, so those population should be concerned in particular with sustainable psychological service and other measures. The finding of social relation domain score being higher than general population suggests that it is important to promote the satisfaction with social relation through the timely effective support from both government and civil society, and the resettlement of sample housing area as well.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the rescue activities of 11 foreign medical teams during the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, China, and summarize their rescue patterns and procedures to provide a reference for disaster medical treatment. Methods Statistics in the study are based on information from the Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Relief Headquarters. The authors also directly involved foreign medical teams in the data collection and statistical analysis. Results The different rescue patterns and procedures of foreign medical teams were based on specific conditions and were in strict accordance with scientific and prudent work processes. This resulted in high efficiency and effectiveness in the rescue. Conclusion Chinese medical staff could learn from foreign medical teams’ serious work attitude, patient service, and scientific working patterns.
Objective To explore the structure and influencing factors of overall medical treatment expenses of 1 635 inpatients of Wenchuan earthquake in West China Hospital and to provide references for setting up the criteria of medical expenses and for assess the cost-effect of medical rescue and treatment. Methods The data of earthquake casualties were collected to analyze the constitution and influencing factors of the overall medical expense by SPSS 13.0 software. The data were described by X±SD. Comparison of data categories was tested by rank sum and influencing factors were analyzed by multi ple l inear regression analysis. Results A total of 1 635 casualties including 1 413 (86.04%) earthquake wounded and 222 (13.96%) patients from the disaster area were identified. The average expense per capita was 9 165.05±12 426.11 yuan. The overall cost was made up of operation expenses (71.75%) including material cost, examination fee and treatment fee, drug cost (18.41%) as well as bed fee and others (less than 10%). The cost of patients from the disaster area was higher than that of the earthquake wounded (Z= –4.109, P=0.000). The operation, compl ications, multiple-site damages, injures induced by the secondary disaster of the earthquake such as burn and corrosion were the direct reason leading to the high overall expense. The influencing factors included operation (r=0.386), ICU (r=0.336) and the day of hospital ization (r=0.246). Conclusion The earthquake wounded occupy the predominant percentage of the earthquake inpatients in West China Hospital. The operation, compl ications, multiple-site damages and injures induced by the secondary disaster of the earthquake lead to a high overall expense. The influencing factors include operation, ICU and the day of hospital ization. The relationship between the expense and the disease category largely depends on the classification criteria. The relationship between the expense and the age as well as the prognosis needs further study. But no correlation between the expense and the gender is found.
Objective To summarize the organization management and performance of volunteers taking part in the medical succor in People’s Hospital of Deyang City after 2 weeks of Wenchuan earthquake, in order to provide some reference for public health events in the future. Method Collecting some basic information, job flowing, workload, and management system of volunteers in the hospital from 12th to 26th, May, 2008, and so on, and then using Microsoft EXCEL to set up database for general analysis, in order to summarize management’s characteristics of volunteer organization and effects in hospital medical rescue. Result There are 6 838 persons that took part in the volunteer work, and this work can be divided into 3 phases according to the difference of the organization and management methods, they are 1 day later, 2-3 days later, 4-14 days later after earthquake. These volunteers assisted hospital finishing rescue, treatment and nursing for more than 1 870 wounded persons, transferring more than 441 wounded persons, and some works of logistic service, epidemic situation prevention and control, mentality intervention. Conclusion Different work tasks in different phases for volunteers after 2 weeks earthquake. Organizing and managing volunteers in different phases according to different work tasks to benefit the work performance.
Objective To analyze the outcome of patients with Blunt Abdominal Injury (BAI) in the Deyang People’s Hospital after the Wenchuan Earthquake, in order to provide evidence for future improvement in emergency response after earthquakes and in the treatment of BAI patients. Methods Data on the BAI patients within 1 week after the earthquake were collected from the Information Department of the Hospital. Microsoft EXCEL was used for data input. Results A total of 23 BAI inpatients were treated, of whom 15 were from Mianzhu City and sent to hospital within 12 hours of the earthquake. This was 1.9% of the total inpatients. The BAI inpatients suffered severe and complex injuries, and 5 of them died (mortality rate: 22%). Linenectomy was conducted for patients with spleen injuries and two inpatients developed incision infection due to lack of antibiotics during the perioperative period. Conclusions It is important to establish an emergency response mechanism for medical rescue for patients with the viscera injury, including BAI, after an earthquake. This would help to guarantee rational allocation of the rescue workers, triage of the wounded, optimization of operation, as well as a reduction in mortality from BAI.
Objective To evaluate the performance of emergency medical rescue (EMR) within 1 month after Lushan earthquake, and to prove and enrich the experience from Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide useful references for global earthquake EMR with regard to decreasing death and disability rates. Methods All the following date published within 1 month after 4.20 Lushan earthquake were collected and analyzed, including official information, public documents, news release, relevant information from websites and victims’ medical records in the West China Hospital, then the relevant domestic and foreign literature about EMR (including EMR of Wenchuan earthquake). And then comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of EMR in Lushan earthquake. Results a) Being 87 km apart from each other, the main seismic zones of Lushan and Wenchuan located in the south west and middle north of Longmenshan fault zone, respectively. Although only 1 earthquake magnitude differed between them, the disaster area, and the number of affected population, deaths, disappearances, injured, severe injured and migration population in Wenchuan earthquake were 40, 23, 353, 853, 27, 14 and 51 times higher than those in Lushan earthquake, respectively. b) Learned from Wenchuan experience, the manpower scheduling in Lushan earthquake was quicker: the assembled medical personnel peak of Lushan vs. Wenchuan was 87.62% vs. 56.06 % in golden 72 hours post-quake. c) Supplies scheduling was more rational: the utilization rate was higher under the guidance of accurate information of demand. d) Medical treatment was more rational and efficient: the critical injured were treated following “Four concentration treatment principles”; saving life and restoring function at the same time; treatment and physical-mental rehabilitation at the same time; treatment and evidence production and implementation at the same time. e) Medical institutions and service returned to normal in time: 96.7% (440/455) of government owned township medical institutions in 21 affected towns returned to normal and provided medical services at their original sites. Conclusion By learning form Wenchuan experience, the following performance is implemented in Lushan earthquake: medical rescue guided by the accurate information; supplies scheduling guided by the accurate demand; both critical injured treatment,and physical-mental rehabilitation guided by the accurate assessment of injuries. So the medical rescue within 1 month after Lushan earthquake is quicker, more rational and efficient. After 20 days post quake zero death of critical injured was achieved. The early physical-mental rehabilitation fastens the functional reconstruction of the injured and helps them return to the society. So it suggests that the Lushan EMR enriches and develops the reference value of EMR experience of Wenchuan earthquake.
To retrospectively summarize the medical rescue organization and strategy of West China Hospital medical team during the Wenchuan earthquake so as to provide reference for rescue practice in the future. We emphasize that the key point to improve the efficiency of rescue is scientifically assigning and util izing medical resource according to the demand at the actual locale of the earthquake and the characters of various stages of the earthquake .
Objective To summarize the experience of preparation and administration of medical materials for the daytime-sickroom during the treatment of patients who were injured during Wenchuan earthquake in order to supply management experience for future emergency situations. Methods Data concerning the preparation and administration of medical materials and medical treatment for the daytime-sickroom were collected systematically. Results The high level of activity and order during the rescue provided quality care to patients injured in the earthquake. All 224 patients were treated effectively from May 12-29.Conclusion The daytime-sickroom acts as a combination sickroom, which allowed flexibility. The daytime-sickroom can manage medical materials and succesfully insure the treatement of patients when emergent events happen.
