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Pre-earthquake Burden of Illness and Postearthquake Health and Preparedness in Veterans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Claudia Der-Martirosian ,
Deborah Riopelle ,
Diana Naranjo ,
Elizabeth M. Yano ,
Lisa V. Rubenstein  and
Aram Dobalian
Claudia Der-Martirosian*
Affiliation:
Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, California USA
Deborah Riopelle
Affiliation:
Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, California USA
Diana Naranjo
Affiliation:
Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, California USA
Elizabeth M. Yano
Affiliation:
VA Greater Los Angeles Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Excellence for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior, Sepulveda, California USA
Lisa V. Rubenstein
Affiliation:
VA Greater Los Angeles Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Excellence for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior, Sepulveda, California USA
Aram Dobalian
Affiliation:
Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, California USA Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California USA UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, California USA
*
Correspondence: Claudia Der-Martirosian, PhD Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC) 16111 Plummer St., MS-152 North Hills, CA 91343 USA E-mail Claudia.Der-Martirosian@va.gov
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Abstract

Background

During an earthquake, vulnerable populations, especially those with chronic conditions, are more susceptible to adverse, event-induced exacerbation of chronic conditions such as limited access to food and water, extreme weather temperatures, and injury. These circumstances merit special attention when health care facilities and organizations prepare for and respond to disasters.

Methods

This study explores the relationship between pre-earthquake burden of illness and postearthquake health-related and preparedness factors in the US. Data from a cohort of male veterans who were receiving care at the Sepulveda Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Los Angeles, California USA during the 1994 Northridge earthquake were analyzed.

Results

Veterans with one or more chronic conditions were more likely to report pain lasting two or more days, severe mental/emotional stress for more than two weeks, broken/lost medical equipment, having difficulty refilling prescriptions, and being unable to get medical help following the quake compared to veterans without chronic conditions. In terms of personal emergency preparedness, however, there was no association between burden of illness and having enough food or water for at least 24 hours after the earthquake.

Conclusion

The relationship that exists between health care providers, including both individual providers and organizations like the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and their vulnerable, chronically-ill patients affords providers the unique opportunity to deliver critical assistance that could make this vulnerable population better prepared to meet their postdisaster health-related needs. This can be accomplished through education about preparedness and the provision of easier access to medical supplies. Disaster plans for those who are burdened with chronic conditions should meet their social needs in addition to their psychological and physical needs.

Der-MartirosianC, RiopelleD, NaranjoD, YanoE, RubensteinL, DobalianA. Pre-earthquake Burden of Illness and Postearthquake Health and Preparedness in Veterans. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(3):1-7.

Keywords

burden of illnesspostearthquake preparednessveteransvulnerable populations
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 223 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

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