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Psychosocial Consequences Among Nurses in the Affected Area of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the Fukushima Complex Disaster: A Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 December 2018

Hideko Sato Open the ORCID record for Hideko Sato [Opens in a new window] ,
Teeranee Techasrivichien ,
Atsuko Omori ,
Masako Ono-Kihara  and
Masahiro Kihara
Hideko Sato*
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Tokyo Kasei University, Saitama, Japan
Teeranee Techasrivichien
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Socio-epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
Atsuko Omori
Affiliation:
Medical English Learning Support Association, Tokyo, Japan
Masako Ono-Kihara
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Socio-epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
Masahiro Kihara
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Socio-epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Hideko Sato, Department of Nursing, Tokyo Kasei University, 2-15-1 Inariyama, Sayama, Saitama, 350-1398, Japan (e-mail: sato-hi@tokyo-kasei.ac.jp).
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Abstract

Objective

The goal of this study was to assess the psychosocial consequences among nurses affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in order to identify their coping strategies and explore possible countermeasures against complex disasters.

Methods

In 2012, we conducted a qualitative study and screened participants for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Results

Thirty-eight nurses participated in this study. The result showed a relatively high proportion of probable PTSD (39%). Thirty-two conceptual codes emerged from the data and were grouped into 8 categories: “initial acute stress,” “acute stress turning chronic,” “chronic physical and mental fatigue,” “occupational stress,” “fear of the impact of radiation on children’s health,” “occupational satisfaction,” “positive influences of the disaster experiences,” and “impact of mutual care through interpersonal cognition.”

Conclusions

The study reveals that mutual care may have a positive impact in assisting recovery and enhancing the psychological well-being of nurses. We suggest that disaster management should take into consideration the conflict between professional and family responsibilities. In the light of the chronic impact of the nuclear crisis, enhanced support for interpersonal relationships and human resources, as well as appropriate safety precautions, is urgently needed to help affected nurses. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:519-526)

Keywords

complexdisasterpsycosocalconsequencesself-condemnationrole conflictinterpersonal relationships
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , June 2019 , pp. 519 - 526
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 

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