Stevens L1
1Northumbria University, Previous Student, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Background: An increasing number of survival rates post disaster has been identified, this has been a direct effect from advances in emergency medical interventions. However, a considerable number of survivors are still having to live with high rates of mental, emotional and physical disabilities directly or indirectly resulting from their injuries. In recent years, a push for rehabilitation services to be included in emergency response teams has been made. Rehabilitation is recognised as one of the core functions in trauma care systems within regular healthcare. Thus, it is now advocated that foreign medical teams should secure provision plans that incorporate rehabilitation services into disaster response.
Purpose: To explore, summarise and report the results on the experiences of and roles of physiotherapists and occupational therapists in disaster management, specifically the preparedness phase.
1. Identify evidence that reports the experiences and roles of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other rehabilitation providers working in disasters.
2.Summarise the results and identify common themes for discussion.
3. Contextualise the findings and make recommendations for future practice and research.
Methods: A scoping review following a specific framework: Identify the research questions; identify the relevant studies; select the studies; chart data; and collate, summarise and report the results. The results were presented using descriptive numerical and thematic analysis.
Results: Ten studies were identified that reported evidence through a variety of method designs (retrospective qualitative design; editorials; magazine articles; perspectives; viewpoints of experts; a concept paper; a comprehensive briefing report and a published guide). Six themes were identified
(1) the recognition of the profession in disaster management;
(2) psychological considerations;
(3) challenges faced when working on the edge pf practice;
(4) education and training;
(5) personal preparation: and
(6) preparation, planning and promotion of working in disasters.
Conclusion(s): This scoping review found that the importance of rehabilitation is increasing in disaster management and is becoming recognised as an essential part of emergency medical teams and non-governmental organisations. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists have a unique set of skills that can be used to develop response plans, include vulnerable groups, promote their roles in disaster and educate sand train staff and victims of disaster.
Implications: This review highlights the need for more research to be conducted in this area. Researchers should try and identify how effective rehabilitation professionals are in contributing to preparedness plans. In addition, a focus on determining the other roles of rehabilitation professionals, in different phases of disaster, will help draw together various sectors of rehabilitation that can be supplemented to the preparedness plans.
In summary this review finds physiotherapist and occupational therapists to be an essential art of disaster management, offering unique bodies of knowledge and skills to the preparedness phase whilst delivering the most effective response.
Keywords: Disaster management, Physiotherapy, Preparedness
Funding acknowledgements: N/A
MSc physiotherapy thesis
Purpose: To explore, summarise and report the results on the experiences of and roles of physiotherapists and occupational therapists in disaster management, specifically the preparedness phase.
1. Identify evidence that reports the experiences and roles of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other rehabilitation providers working in disasters.
2.Summarise the results and identify common themes for discussion.
3. Contextualise the findings and make recommendations for future practice and research.
Methods: A scoping review following a specific framework: Identify the research questions; identify the relevant studies; select the studies; chart data; and collate, summarise and report the results. The results were presented using descriptive numerical and thematic analysis.
Results: Ten studies were identified that reported evidence through a variety of method designs (retrospective qualitative design; editorials; magazine articles; perspectives; viewpoints of experts; a concept paper; a comprehensive briefing report and a published guide). Six themes were identified
(1) the recognition of the profession in disaster management;
(2) psychological considerations;
(3) challenges faced when working on the edge pf practice;
(4) education and training;
(5) personal preparation: and
(6) preparation, planning and promotion of working in disasters.
Conclusion(s): This scoping review found that the importance of rehabilitation is increasing in disaster management and is becoming recognised as an essential part of emergency medical teams and non-governmental organisations. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists have a unique set of skills that can be used to develop response plans, include vulnerable groups, promote their roles in disaster and educate sand train staff and victims of disaster.
Implications: This review highlights the need for more research to be conducted in this area. Researchers should try and identify how effective rehabilitation professionals are in contributing to preparedness plans. In addition, a focus on determining the other roles of rehabilitation professionals, in different phases of disaster, will help draw together various sectors of rehabilitation that can be supplemented to the preparedness plans.
In summary this review finds physiotherapist and occupational therapists to be an essential art of disaster management, offering unique bodies of knowledge and skills to the preparedness phase whilst delivering the most effective response.
Keywords: Disaster management, Physiotherapy, Preparedness
Funding acknowledgements: N/A
MSc physiotherapy thesis
Topic: Disability & rehabilitation; Education: methods of teaching & learning
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Northumbria University
Ethics committee: Northumbria University
Reason not required: Literature review style of methodology.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
