Disaster and Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients experience a variety of disease caused disabilities that makes them more vulnerable to the effects of disasters. This study aimed to review all existed studies about disasters and related disaster management planning about MS patients.
 Methods: The PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, ProQuest, science direct , and grey literature databases were searched up to the mid of 2021. All obtained titles were assessed by the inclusion criteria. Abstracts of the relevant titles were reviewed and eligible articles/documents were included for full text review and data abstraction.
 Results: From 24616 Articles/documents, finally 15 documents (13 articles, and 2 books) were selected. In 8 articles (53%) specifically, focused on MS patients and, in the rest focused on them as a member of people with disabilities. Most studies (10, 71.4%), emphasized on the disaster induced stress effect on MS patients. In two books/book sections, the disaster preparedness plan for all types of disabilities was presented in general, and MS patients were mentioned as a member of the group of patients with disabilities.
 Conclusion: Despite the importance of planning in response to disasters to address specific problems of MS patients, there is a lack of proper planning. This is very important and there is an urgent need to develop appropriate planning protocols for addressing the special conditions of MS patients in response to disasters.

Academic Coverage of Social Stressors Experienced by Disabled People: A Scoping Review

“…In one abstract, it is argued that autistic people/people with autism "will have specific needs during disasters and emergency situations and may find such situations more stressful than their typically developing peers, as such they can be considered a more at-risk group in such events" [211] (p. 404). A second one simply mentioned that MS patients are at risk [212]. And the third stated, "Additionally, tourists, recent immigrants, and refugees face challenges when confronted with disaster in unfamiliar locations, linguistically isolated, and in need of assimilating lifesaving information and guidance quickly when under stress.…”

“…None of the 122 abstracts we found for "disaster stress*" (strategy 6) mentioned disasters or emergencies as so-cial stressors for disabled people. Only three of the 911 abstracts (strategy 5b) covering emergency and disaster management, planning and preparedness, and stress* mentioned stress* experienced by disabled people [211][212][213], but all three were irrelevant. As to the 501 abstracts covering stress-identifying technologies (strategy 5a), which are seen to be useful for emergency and disaster management, planning, and preparedness [5], not one abstract covered how these stress-identifying technologies could identify social stressors experienced by disabled people.…”