Psychological Preparedness on Disaster Management among People with Disaster in Bangkok Area

Abstract

   This research project was aimed to study situations of disasters, mental health, victims preparedness and model of psychological preparedness to cope and manage with disasters among community dwellers experienced with these in Bangkok area. This research was designed on a mixed method research between quantitative and qualitative methods. To conduct with the quantitative method the 324 respondents were purposively. Qualitatively the 12 key informants recruited from the representatives were in-depth interviewed, the 15 representatives of community were invited to participate in the one focus group discussion for giving their opinions.  The research instruments were a survey questionnaire of stress and impacts, questioning guidelines of in-depth interviewing and focus group discussion. The collected quantitative data were analyzed in percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient analysis. After that the qualitative data was analyzed with the technique of content analysis.

From the results it was found as follows: 67.3%  of respondents never prepared themselves to cope with the disasters. Overall of  stress scores in 54.4% of victims with disasters were evaluated at a normal level (= 11.21, SD =  4.26) whereas 54.1%  of the people facing natural disasters and 55.47%  of the people facing man-made disasters showed mean scores equal  = 18.91, SD = .784  and= 19.91, SD = 1.012 respectively.  63.1% of them suffered from the impacts of disasters encountered to stress by chilling out (18.3%), acceptance (11.2%). While facing with these situations of victims preparedness were often prior to stay calm first. The psychological preparedness was overall evaluated at a good level ( =3.45). The stress and its impacts had no significant association with the preparedness. (r = .018, P>0.05)       

          Whilst the qualitative data, the model for preparedness to disasters should have the mental health services for their mental rehabilitation after faced to the Bangkok like-urban disasters. The capabilities of community dwellers about how to solve the problems and self-reliance were encouraged. Networking agencies of primary mental health service should be set up to help and rehabilitate all of the victims for coping with the problems at the initial time. All of the stakeholders could access to the processes of mental health care for health care services in early stage. Accessability to helping agencies should be addressed for risk preventive short and long-term plan disaster management in Bangkok area in the future,

including practical emergency and systemic regulation plan. Psychological preparedness should be followed by conceptual framework processes of the perceived and screened information, assessed severity and impacts, individual preparation steps plan and survive to preliminary safety.                                 

For the recommendations, disaster management, community setting preparedness  should be concerned. High risk victims of population in experienced stress related disasters in Bangkok area should be provided health care services continuingly. Urban population cooperation and participation for multi-level of disaster management should be addressed and also concerning new coming disasters    in the future.