Mortality risk associated with nuclear disasters depends on the time during and following evacuation of hospitals near nuclear power plants: An observational and qualitative study

Sawano, Toyoaki; Senoo, Yuki; Nonaka, Saori; Ozaki, Akihiko; Nishikawa, Yoshitaka; Hori, Arinobu; Kotera, Yasuhiro; Murakami, Michio; Zhao, Tianchen; Tsubokura, Masaharu

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103514

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…Prior studies have explored the physical burden of evacuation and the burden of sitting upright in COPD patients ( 37 , 38 ). This case may further support the notion that forced and prolonged evacuations, particularly to unsuitable locations for patients with disabilities (such as those receiving home oxygen therapy), impose both physical and psychological burdens ( 14 , 15 , 39 – 41 ). Additionally, the factor of respiratory diseases may also be a contributing factor to an increased risk of mortality, as observed in previous research.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

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Case Report: Difficulties faced by a home oxygen therapy patient who died after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

Yamamura,

Sawano,

Ozaki

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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Following the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, mandatory evacuation orders were issued to residents living near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, including some patients receiving home oxygen therapy. Although the vulnerability of patients with home oxygen therapy (one of the population groups most vulnerable to disasters) has been noted, there is little information on the health effects of evacuation in the event of a radiation disaster. A 90-year-old man diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since the age of 70, and lived in a town located approximately 20 km south of the nuclear power plant, died 8 months after the disaster due to worsening health conditions. This case reveals the potential for both physical and psychological burdens experienced by vulnerable groups like patients undergoing home oxygen therapy during evacuations in times of disaster. Although it is only a case report and the information is limited, severe respiratory distress requiring home oxygen therapy may present a significant risk factor for disaster-related deaths, especially in cases where evacuations are prolonged, such as in nuclear disasters. Due to the challenge of obtaining prompt public support immediately after a disaster, home oxygen therapy patients may need to prioritize self-help and mutual assistance in their disaster preparedness efforts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…Even a single evacuation imposes physical and psychological burdens on vulnerable individuals. However, the need for repeated evacuations could compound these challenges ( 39 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case Report: Difficulties faced by a home oxygen therapy patient who died after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

Yamamura,

Sawano,

Ozaki

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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“…Furthermore, evacuation plans in hospitals and facilities are not shared in detail among municipalities, coordination is limited within prefectures, and information sharing and collaboration with adjacent prefectures is lacking. The FDNPP accident caused emergency evacuations without sufficient preparation, leading to numerous patient deaths in hospitals within the PAZ [15,16]. Studies suggest the need for prior coordination, such as predetermined evacuation destinations, to reduce the burden of evacuation on vulnerable patients [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness of disaster preparedness between administrative staff and residents in the vicinity of the Genkai and Ikata nuclear power plants following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster

Yamamoto,

Sawano,

Eguchi

et al. 2024

J. Radiol. Prot.

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When considering disaster preparedness, one challenge is mitigating the health impacts of evacuations. Nuclear disaster preparedness has evolved based on past experiences from numerous disasters, including the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reporting on the awareness of administrative staff, medical personnel, and residents in the areas surrounding nuclear power plants (NPPs). This study reports on a survey aimed at gaining insights into the understanding and current state of disaster preparedness and elucidating the differences in perceptions of nuclear disaster preparedness among the relevant stakeholders surrounding NPPs. Interview surveys were conducted from 14 to 16 September 2022 in the area surrounding Kyushu Electric Power's Genkai NPP in Saga Prefecture and from 11 to 13 January 2023 in the area around Shikoku Electric Power's Ikata NPP. The surveys targeted administrative, medical, and nursing care facilities and residents. Responses from 57 participants indicated a lack of awareness of natural and nuclear disasters, challenges in evacuation planning, and a gap between nuclear disaster training and residents’ understanding of evacuation protocols. This study highlights inadequacies in nuclear disaster preparedness and the need for a better understanding among residents regarding evacuation procedures. This study identified three key issues: (1) a lack of awareness about disasters, including nuclear disasters; (2) concerns about complex disasters and the difficulties in creating evacuation plans; and (3) a discrepancy between nuclear disaster training and residents’ understanding of evacuation procedures. To bridge this gap, it is important to deepen residents’ understanding of nuclear disasters, continuously convey the lessons learned from the FDNPP accident, and regularly reassess and update nuclear disaster preparedness strategies.

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“…A study in Iran concluded that the hospital incident command system can effectively increase hospital staff’s readiness and speed of action during disasters [ 58 ]. Sawano et al suggested that hospital evacuation insights during disasters should be considered in disaster preparedness policies, planning, training and pre-testing of these plans [ 59 ]. As in other organizations, all aspects of decision-making in hospitals must be implemented and monitored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Components of hospital personnel preparedness to evacuate patients in disasters: a systematic review

Moslehi,

Masbi,

Noori

et al. 2024

BMC Emerg Med

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Background During natural catastrophes, hospital staff members’ readiness for crisis management—particularly concerning patient evacuation and improving their safety—becomes paramount. This study aimed to identify the components contributing to hospital staff members’ preparedness to evacuate patients in an emergency. Method A systematic review was conducted by searching databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and grey literature through May 2023. Studies that offered unique qualitative or quantitative data regarding hospital personnel readiness to evacuate patients in an emergency were included. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used to examine the extracted data points. Results In total, there were 274 scientific articles. The total number of unique studies decreased to 181 after removing duplicate articles. 28 papers that were deemed appropriate for additional study were found based on the titles and abstracts of these articles. Eighteen papers that met the inclusion criteria were selected for the systematic review after their entire texts were finally assessed. Hospital staff preparedness for patient evacuation was divided into four primary topics and nineteen sub-themes. The four primary themes that emerged were management, communication, individual issues, and training on the evacuation process. Conclusion The implementation of proper disaster evacuation training programs can be achieved by elevating the perceived sensitivity and protective motive of personnel and considering the personnel’s stages of change. Training hospital staff to properly evacuate patients during disasters is also significantly impacted by other factors, such as effective administration, leadership and prompt and efficient communication.

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Mortality risk associated with nuclear disasters depends on the time during and following evacuation of hospitals near nuclear power plants: An observational and qualitative study

Cited by 5 publications

References 27 publications

Case Report: Difficulties faced by a home oxygen therapy patient who died after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

Case Report: Difficulties faced by a home oxygen therapy patient who died after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

Awareness of disaster preparedness between administrative staff and residents in the vicinity of the Genkai and Ikata nuclear power plants following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster

Components of hospital personnel preparedness to evacuate patients in disasters: a systematic review

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