Public Compliance In Public Health

Emergencies can be dangerous and can occur unexpectedly. They can happen at any time in any place. It is difficult for any one person to be prepared for every situation. This is why public health is important. The emergency preparedness sector of public health is a team of people from various professions who work together during emergency situations to keep people safe. In order for these people to do their jobs and keep people safe, the public needs to listen to them and abide by the policies and procedures they have set in place. When the public does not comply with orders given by emergency responders, their safety and the safety of those around them may be compromised. Therefore, it is important to find ways to help the public feel more comfortable accepting orders from healthcare workers, police, firefighters, the National Guard, and other emergency professionals during these disastrous times.

When people do not comply with orders given by professionals during

According to Murphy et al. (2009), “individuals with low socioeconomic status, minorities, and recent immigrants” are less likely to comply with directives from disaster response professionals (p. 2). This is mostly due to a lack of educational resources. Murphy et al. (2009) also found that an increased education, being female, and being in poor health correspond with higher rates of compliance (p. 6-7). An increased education provides someone with the ability to make a more informed decision. Lindell, Perry, Prater, and Nicholson (2006) found that sometimes people do not comply due to “concerns about protecting their property” (p. 96). Leaving possessions behind can be difficult, especially under stressful circumstances. It can also be difficult for some people to trust emergency professionals. If an emergency responder is not credible or powerful, people are less likely to listen to