Health Needs of Patients With Chronic Diseases Who Lived Through the Great Hanshin Earthquake

Mori, Kikuko; Ugai, Kazuhiro; Nonami, Youko; Kirimura, Tomoko; Kondo, Chiaki; Nakamura, Tomoko; Motoki, Emi; Kaji, Hidesuke

doi:10.1016/j.dmr.2006.11.002

Cited by 40 publications

(40 citation statements)

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“…However, some amount of time lag between an event and a survey is inevitable in disaster research, especially for the survey enrolling a large number of the patients affected by different events in different places. Most of the previous studies, in fact, were based on a retrospective approach with some recall periods, and in some of these, the recall periods were much longer than those of the present study [12,24]. Although the effect of recall bias should be considered, the findings of our study still have a high impact as this is the first report to raise subject of awareness of disaster preparedness among RA patients and health practitioners.…”

Section: Variablecontrasting

confidence: 51%

“…RA patients, in general, require continuous treatment to achieve and maintain their remission, otherwise they can experience flares, resulting in a deterioration of functional status and the development of severe complications [10,11]. Due to the specific nature of the disease, RA patients require special support under disaster situations to maintain their routine treatment [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of natural disasters on the functional and health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

2011

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To examine the effects of natural disasters on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients we conducted a questionnaire survey targeted to 1,477 members of a nationwide RA patient group in Japan who lived in the municipalities affected by natural disasters between 2004 and 2006. Functional statuses measured by the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and self-rated health statuses before and after the events were retrospectively examined. The associations between the changes in functional and health status and socio-demographics, direct damage, and preparedness status were statistically analyzed. Of the 665 individuals who responded, the data on 192 women RA patients were analyzed. The values at 1 and 6 months post-event were the same, with 14% experiencing deteriorations of functional status, while 22% experienced a worsening of self-rated health status. Those in poorer functional status before the events were more likely to experience deteriorations of functional [odds ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-13.6] and health (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2-6.7) status at both 1 month and 6 months (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.3-12.0, and OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2-6.7, respectively) after the events. Based on these results, we conclude that the functional and health status of women RA patients could worsen due to the consequences of a natural disaster, with a disproportionately large impact upon those with a poorer functional status.

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Section: Variablecontrasting

confidence: 51%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of natural disasters on the functional and health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

2011

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“…Even when evacuated safely, the loss of medications, assistive devices, and support personnel can worsen the condition of these vulnerable persons and further impair their overall functioning and quality of life (10, 36, 37). Moreover, these persons often have greater difficulty meeting basic needs following a natural disaster since adequate transportation and sheltering are often not included in local disaster response plans (9, 11). Compromised basic and specialty medical care following a natural disaster also increases risk of medical complications including infection, organ failure, and even death (38–40).…”

Section: Epidemiology Of Injury and Disability Following Natural Disamentioning

confidence: 99%

Disability and health-related rehabilitation in international disaster relief

Reinhardt

Li²,

Gosney

et al. 2011

Global Health Action

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BackgroundNatural disasters result in significant numbers of disabling impairments. Paradoxically, however, the traditional health system response to natural disasters largely neglects health-related rehabilitation as a strategic intervention.ObjectivesTo examine the role of health-related rehabilitation in natural disaster relief along three lines of inquiry: (1) epidemiology of injury and disability, (2) impact on health and rehabilitation systems, and (3) the assessment and measurement of disability.DesignQualitative literature review and secondary data analysis.ResultsAbsolute numbers of injuries as well as injury to death ratios in natural disasters have increased significantly over the last 40 years. Major impairments requiring health-related rehabilitation include amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries (SCI), and long bone fractures. Studies show that persons with pre-existing disabilities are more likely to die in a natural disaster. Lack of health-related rehabilitation in natural disaster relief may result in additional burdening of the health system capacity, exacerbating baseline weak rehabilitation and health system infrastructure. Little scientific evidence on the effectiveness of health-related rehabilitation interventions following natural disaster exists, however. Although systematic assessment and measurement of disability after a natural disaster is currently lacking, new approaches have been suggested.ConclusionHealth-related rehabilitation potentially results in decreased morbidity due to disabling injuries sustained during a natural disaster and is, therefore, an essential component of the medical response by the host and international communities. Significant systematic challenges to effective delivery of rehabilitation interventions during disaster include a lack of trained responders as well as a lack of medical recordkeeping, data collection, and established outcome measures. Additional development of health-related rehabilitation following natural disaster is urgently required.

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“…RA patients generally require continuous treatment to achieve and maintain their remission; without such treatment, flare-ups can occur, resulting in a deteriorating functional status and possibly causing severe complications [18,19]. Thus, RA patients require special support during disaster situations [20]. RA can produce a wide range of physical disabilities, and some RA patients may be classified as being physically disabled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparity in disaster preparedness among rheumatoid arthritis patients with various general health, functional, and disability conditions

Tomio

Sato

Mizumura

2011

Environ Health Prev Med

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Objectives To describe disaster preparedness among chronically ill patients and to examine how differences in health, functional, and disability conditions are associated with disaster preparedness, focusing on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with various functional and disability levels. Methods In 2007, 1,477 members of a nationwide RA patient group in Japan who lived in municipalities affected by natural disasters between 2004 and 2006 were asked to participate in a questionnaire survey. Three medical preparedness indicators, namely, medication stockpiles, the carrying of medications, and the carrying of prescription/ treatment records, and three general preparedness indicators, namely, having emergency packs, emergency communication plans, and emergency evacuation plans, were used as dependent variables. Multivariable logistic models were applied to examine the associations of health-related vulnerability variables with the preparedness variables. Results Of the 553 subjects included into the analysis, only one-half had taken medical preparedness measures and only one-quarter had taken general preparedness measures. Although physical disability and poorer functional level were associated positively with the medical preparedness, those with poorer perceived health were less likely to carry medications and prescription/treatment records, and those receiving the highest long-term care levels were less likely to carry medications than their healthier counterparts.Conclusions Among the population of chronically ill RA patients surveyed, disaster preparedness was insufficient, and their preparedness status varied with health, functional, and disability conditions. We suggest that policy-makers should give careful thought to the targets they set for disaster preparedness.

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Health Needs of Patients With Chronic Diseases Who Lived Through the Great Hanshin Earthquake

Cited by 40 publications

References 4 publications

Impact of natural disasters on the functional and health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Impact of natural disasters on the functional and health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Disability and health-related rehabilitation in international disaster relief

Disparity in disaster preparedness among rheumatoid arthritis patients with various general health, functional, and disability conditions

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