eprintid: 18106
rev_number: 19
userid: 1682
dir: disk0/00/01/81/06
datestamp: 2013-06-27 18:23:03
lastmod: 2016-11-15 14:11:10
status_changed: 2013-06-27 18:23:03
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: ohouck@gmail.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Houck, Olivia
creators_email: och5@pitt.edu
creators_id: OCH5
title: Modeling Staffing Dynamics for POD Operations in an Infectious Disease Emergency
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_infectiousdiseasesmicrobiology
full_text_status: public
keywords: points-of-dispensing, preparedness, staffing, agent-based modeling
abstract: The effects of variables impacting mass prophylaxis point-of-dispensing (POD) staffing in an infectious disease emergency could potentially aid in preparedness efforts by advising recruiting, training, and emergency planning. This project aims to explore three factors that may impact staffing capabilities for POD: pathogen, absenteeism, and response rates. These factors were explored through building an agent-based model in the NetLogo modeling platform. An agent-based modeling approach was used to emphasize the impact of indirect interaction between individuals that results as roles are filled by individuals who volunteer first. This model set the environment at different absenteeism and response levels, and different POD staffing requirements based on pathogen (influenza vaccinations or anthrax antibiotics). To measure the effects of these variables, time-to-staff and staff shortages were recorded at the end of each simulation run. For influenza conditions, staffing capabilities became more constrained as absenteeism increased, and response decreased. However, for anthrax conditions, these constraints were very mild, and the differences in these trends between influenza and anthrax were significant. Overall, this model provides an example of staffing constrains that could be anticipated if such a model were to be developed for use in local health departments. Such a model could allow for planners to find staffing weaknesses before they manifest, and tailor recruiting and training efforts accordingly to create a staff pool that would be overall more able to successfully staff PODs in an emergency. The public health significance of this project is to provide a foundation for future development of this type of agent-based model to aid in public health preparedness planning.
date: 2013-06-27
date_type: published
pages: 68
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_cochair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Potter, Margaret
etdcommittee_name: Martinson, Jeremy
etdcommittee_name: Grefenstette, John
etdcommittee_email: mapotter@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: jmartins@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: gref@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: MAPOTTER
etdcommittee_id: JMARTINS
etdcommittee_id: GREF
etd_defense_date: 2013-03-25
etd_approval_date: 2013-06-27
etd_submission_date: 2013-04-22
etd_release_date: 2013-06-27
etd_access_restriction: 2_year
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
citation:   Houck, Olivia  (2013) Modeling Staffing Dynamics for POD Operations in an Infectious Disease Emergency.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/18106/1/Olivia_Houck_Thesis_2013.pdf