Evaluating the efficiency of emergency operation centers (EOCs) during pandemics: A cross-sectional study with operational managers in Iran

Majid Sartipi^1,2,3Asiye Aminafshar^4,5*Abdolrazzagh Pakzad⁶Mohammadreza Shafiei^7,8Hojjat Farahmandnia⁷Asghar Tavan⁹

• ¹MD, PhD in Epidemiology, Assistant Professor Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
• ²Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran., zahedan, Iran
• ³Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
• ⁴Health in Disasters and Emergencies Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran., Kerman, Iran
• ⁵Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
• ⁶Health Safety and Environmental Management (HSE), Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran, zahedan, Iran
• ⁷Health in Disasters and Emergencies Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Kerman, Iran
• ⁸Faculty of Nursing, Larestan University of Medical Sciences, Larestan, Iran
• ⁹BSc, MSc of Nursing, PhD of Health in Disasters & Emergencies,Assistant professor, Disasters and Emergencies Department, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, kerman, Iran

Background: An effective crisis management system like the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) influences the number of damages and human casualties during disasters and pandemics. This study examined the preparedness and management functions of the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences incident command system (ICS) in response to incidents and disasters, focusing on its implementation during the pandemic.The study employed a cross-sectional design. All members of the university's ICS at various levels were included in the study. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The PCA (Principal component analysis) method was employed in SPSS 27 statistical software for data analysis.Results: Among the extracted components, the highest mean was associated with the command and empowerment of operational teams (C2), with a mean of 3.72 (CI: 3.04-4.40). The managers working in the crisis management headquarters, at the planning and comprehensive command level, performed better than other management levels. A significant relationship was found between past crisis experience and the scores of all extracted components. Individuals who had previously been involved in crises scored higher. The p-values for components 1 to 4 were 0.002, 0.001, 0.005, and 0.019, respectively. In C1 (Comprehensive risk planning) and C2, individuals with higher education obtained better scores, 3.85 (CI: 3.15-4.55) and 3.92 (CI: 3.22-4.62) compared to individuals with lower education 3.46 (CI: 2.79-4.13) and 3.57 (CI: 2.93-4.21) (p-values 0.011 and 0.02, respectively). Also, continuous training significantly helped improve the performance of managers. Other variables such as field of study, type of employment, and job history did not show significant differences.Past experiences significantly impact people's ability to prepare and make quick decisions in times of crisis. It is essential to provide effective solutions to future managers and implement corrective measures within the crisis management system. Additionally, training and empowerment programs should be planned for all healthcare workers, and greater attention should be paid to investing in young forces.