LOCATION DECISION CRITERIA FOR COMMUNITY ISOLATION FACILITIES: A CASE STUDY OF COVID-19 RESPONSE

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the criteria that influence the decision-making process for selecting a suitable location for a community isolation facility in the context of managing cases of Infectious Respiratory Diseases, with a primary focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected from a sample of ten individuals with expertise in the field, who have encountered COVID-19 situations. This data collection involved the administration of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Subsequently, the Content Validity Index (CVI) approach was employed to scrutinize the gathered data. The findings indicated that two out of the 18 criteria identified through a comprehensive literature analysis, namely Rental Cost and Main Road Proximity, were excluded from consideration. Additionally, the study revealed a correlation between the size of a city and the significance of criteria such as Rental Costs and main roads in the decision-making process. Furthermore, various contextual elements, including geography, demography, and lifestyle, were found to exert influence on location selection criteria. Importantly, these criteria can guide the selection of suitable areas and inform strategies for addressing future respiratory disease outbreaks. Collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including the government and the general public, remains integral in determining these criteria.