Abstract:
Objective To assess the current status of emergency management capabilities of transport airlines for public health emergencies in China.
Methods A cross-sectional study using convenient sampling was conducted to analyze the emergency management capabilities of 73 transport airlines in 2020, including organizational resources, emergency response plans, training, and drills. The data were analyzed descriptively using rates and proportions. Chi-square test and Fisher exact probability method were used to compare differences in emergency management capabilities between airlines in various regions and those with varying scales of flight crews.
Results In terms of organizational resources, 100.0% (73/73) airlines had established emergency prevention and control departments, 52.1% (38/73) had dedicated personnel, and 26.0% (19/73) had information systems. Emergency response plans were developed in 91.8% (67/73) of airlines, and 85.1% (57/67) of airlines had updated their plans in 2020. Moreover, 34.3% (25/73) of airlines conducted ≤1 training annually, with limited use of evaluation and improvement method such as training evaluation and feedback (45.2%, 33/73) and regular personnel assessment (52.1%, 38/73). Of these airlines, 71.2% (52/73) conducted annual emergency drills, 12.3% (9/73) engaged in local emergency drills, and 61.6% (45/73) had drill evaluation feedback mechanisms and methods. Regional variations existed in emergency drill evaluation and feedback rates (χ2=6.43, P=0.040), with airlines in the eastern region demonstrating higher emergency drill evaluation and feedback rates than those in the middle and western regions (χ2=5.83, P=0.016). Airlines with a higher number of flight attendants and higher flight volumes showed a significantly higher allocation rate of dedicated personnel (P < 0.05).
Conclusion Airlines had a certain management ability to deal with public health emergencies, as indicated by the high establishment rate of emergency departments and high formulation rate of emergency response plans. However, they still need to further strengthen and improve aspects such as updating emergency response plans, providing and cultivating professional talents, and conducting regular emergency training and drills.