Mohammadkarim Bahadori - Health Management Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamid Reza Khankeh - Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Rouhollah Zaboli - Health Management Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Raiszadeh - Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Isa Malmir - Health Management Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Coordination is a critical factor in successful organization and appropriate response to disasters. In this regard, a centralized coordination mechanism is the first step towards an effective, efficient, and sustainable response in order to be ensured of the short- and long-term recovery. Thus, this study aimed to identify and prioritize the barriers and facilitators of coordination in disasters. Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted in ۲۰۱۶. The participants comprised ۲۲ experts in field of disaster. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire according to the analytical hierarchy process approach. For data analysis, we used Expert Choice software. Results: Based on the results, “dominance of organizational approach instead of national points of view when addressing the health management during disasters,” took the first priority rank, earning the score of ۰.۳۴۴ among the barriers. Furthermore, among the facilitators, “having a processive and organizational view in health management during disasters,” took the first priority rank, earning the score of ۰.۳۷۴. Conclusion: To increase the effective coordination in health area, we should develop infrastructure and structural measures, which include bolstering authorities’ belief about the health system’s role in the response to disasters, reinforcing the national approach rather than organizational approach in the field of health at disasters, implementing the coordination requirements, attending sufficiently and specifically to public participation, reducing the organizational friction in the health field for sharing resources and information, raising the level of readiness with a focus on people and training programs, and finally creating an evolutionary process in the health field at disasters.

Coordinating, Disaster, Barrier, Facilitator