Facilitating the deployment of Japanese human resources for responding global outbreaks of emerging and Re-emerging infectious diseases: A cross-sectional study

Hidetoshi Nomoto; Masahiro Ishikane; Sangnim Lee; Nobuhiro Komiya; Takahiro Maeki; Tamano Matsui; Kouichi Morita; Hitoshi Oshitani; Masayuki Saijo; Takuya Yamagishi; Taro Yamamoto; Norio Ohmagari

doi:10.1016/j.jiac.2021.09.015

Facilitating the deployment of Japanese human resources for responding global outbreaks of emerging and Re-emerging infectious diseases: A cross-sectional study

J Infect Chemother. 2022 Jan;28(1):41-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.09.015. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases, Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
² Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases, Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: ishikanemasahiro@gmail.com.
³ Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases, Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, 3-1-24, Matsuyama Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, 4-20, Komatsubaradori, Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan.
⁵ Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
⁶ Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Department of Virology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki, Japan.
⁸ Department of Virology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
⁹ Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki, Japan.
¹¹ Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases, Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 34635449
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.09.015

Abstract

Introduction: In response to global outbreaks of infectious diseases, the need for support from organizations such as the World Health Organization Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is increasing. Identifying the obstacles and support needs for applicants could increase GOARN deployments from Japan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a web-based, self-administered questionnaire survey targeting Japanese participants in the GOARN Tier 1.5 training workshop, held in Tokyo in December 2019.

Results: All 47 Japanese participants in the workshop responded to the survey. Most responders were male and in their 30s and 40s. Participants specialized in case management (42.6%), infection prevention and control (25.6%), epidemiology and surveillance (19.1%). Only two participants (4.6%) had experienced a GOARN deployment. Their motivations for joining the GOARN training workshop were "Desire to be part of an international emerging infectious disease response team" (44.6%), "Interest in making an international contribution" (19.1%), and "Interest in working for the Japanese government in the field of international infectious diseases" (14.9%). Obstacles to GOARN deployments were "Making time for deployments" (45.7%) and "Lack of required professional skills and knowledge" (40.4%). The support needs for GOARN deployments constituted "Periodic simulation training" (51.1%), "Financial support during deployments" (44.7%), and "Technical support for deployments" (40.4%).

Conclusions: Our study revealed the obstacles and support needs of Japanese candidates for GOARN deployment. Making time and upskilling for GOARN deployment were the main obstacles. More practical training (like GOARN Tier 2.0) with other supports are needed. The national framework is desirable to realize these supports.

Keywords: Global health emergency response; Global outbreak alert and response network; International infectious diseases; World health organization.

MeSH terms

Communicable Diseases, Emerging*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease Outbreaks
Global Health
Humans
Japan / epidemiology
Male
Workforce