Dissertation
Examining the effects of including the public in emergency preparedness drills in building trust in local emergency plans
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), Drexel University
May 2009
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3045
Abstract
This dissertation examined the effects of participation in a local preparedness drill in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (The Drill) on participants' level of trust and confidence in government preparedness activities. Mayer, Davis, and Schoorman's (1995) model of trust provides the study's theoretical framework. In addition, in response to the Department of Homeland Security's call to include vulnerable populations (e.g., racial minorities) in emergency preparedness planning, this dissertation examined the emergency preparedness needs of African American and Latino communities in Bucks County through individual interviews with community leaders from African American and Latino communities. A secondary analysis of a telephone survey of 316 Drill participants and 17 individual interviews with members of African American and Latino communities was conducted. This dissertation tested whether Drill participants who reported that government had the ability to run it properly were more likely to become confident in government planning activities than those who did not. A secondary aim of this dissertation was designed to help identify those Bucks County subpopulations not participating in preparedness activities. This dissertation also aimed to incorporate information reported by local community leaders who did not find that current outreach and advertisement methods are reaching their communities. Results suggested that those who reported that the government had the ability to run the mass clinic during The Drill were more likely to become confident in the role of the publicsector than those who did not think the clinic was run properly. In addition, results showed the importance of relationship building between local government and community members as a means of adequately preparing for an emergency.
Metrics
28 File views/ downloads
42 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Examining the effects of including the public in emergency preparedness drills in building trust in local emergency plans
- Creators
- Meredith Gaskins Allen - DU
- Contributors
- Augusta M. Villanueva (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Public Health (2002-2015); Community Health and Prevention [Historical]; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3045; 991014632252504721