How Individuals With Chronic Illnesses Manage Health-Related Concerns During Disasters: Development of a Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Disaster preparedness frequently does not address populations less able to prepare for disaster such as those with chronic illness. Although individuals with chronic illnesses are at particular risk of poor outcomes, little is known about how these individuals manage their illnesses in the context of disaster. The purpose of the study is to develop a theoretical framework that describes how individuals with chronic illnesses who have experienced a disaster managed health-related challenges during the disaster. Theory about the five phases of disaster response (nondisaster, predisaster, impact, emergency, and reconstruction) and the individual, local, state, and federal level model served as the conceptual frameworks for this study. Thirty individuals with chronic illnesses who have experienced disaster and 10 lay caregivers were recruited from Florida and New Orleans. This study is using grounded theory methods from the qualitative tradition. Three data sources are being used: interviews with individuals with chronic illnesses and caregivers who have experienced disasters, and media data. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the sample. The combined interviews from the perspectives of those who have experienced disaster (individuals with chronic illness and caregivers) with media reports added contextual description of circumstances surrounding the disaster. Constant comparative analysis techniques are being used to build the theoretical framework. MNRS PhD Student Award Abstractat UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS on April 9, 2015 wjn.sagepub.com Downloaded from