In the field of cancer, many cancer patient associations (CPAs) have been established in Türkiye to support individuals living with cancer (ILCs) throughout the diagnosis and treatment processes. The presence of CPAs for ILCs became more significant after the major earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye in February 2023. The aim of this study is to identify the challenges of ILCs after the earthquakes from the perspective of CPA members.

This study employed a qualitative approach. The data collection method was in-depth interviews. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 15 volunteers who work with ILCs, selected through purposeful sampling. The data were analyzed by using inductive thematic analysis. This study was conducted between April and May 2023.

Three main themes (problems of ILCs caused by earthquakes, access to health care, future concerns) and 11 subthemes were extracted through analyzing interviews.

ILCs experienced diverse difficulties after earthquakes. Members of CPAs observed that acute interventions to injured people and humanitarian aid activities had the first-place importance after the earthquake, while cancer-related care took the second place, anticipating devastating outcomes for the future of their care. CPAs should be supported by the public, local governments, and central government in their endeavors for ILCs.

This study focuses on adults affected by the February 2023 Turkey earthquakes, aiming to uncover demographic and clinical traits.

A retrospective analysis of data from adult patients who sought emergency care between February 6 and February 21, 2023, following the earthquakes, was conducted.

Among 3072 patients, 1544 (50.3%) of whom were women, trauma (31.1%) was the most prevalent cause of emergency department presentations. The median age of all patients was 44 y (interquartile range [IQR] 31-61 y). Hatay province accounted for 65.2% of trauma patients as origin. Most of the patients (66.8%) presented to the emergency department by their own means, while this was opposite for trauma patients, of whom 54.5% was transferred by means of Ambulance Service. Half of the total trauma patients were rescued from the debris, and 75.9% sustained limb injuries. Crush syndrome affected 24.7%, and emergency hemodialysis was performed on 9.1%, whereas emergency surgery was performed on 22.8% of all trauma cases. Overall, 10.2% of trauma patients lacked any identification. The rate of emergency department admittions due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases was higher at the time of the earthquake compared with the previous year (P < 0.001).

The insights gained from this study hold valuable implications for disaster response strategies, emphasizing the importance of preparedness, timely intervention, and comprehensive patient care.

Natural disasters have a significant impact on the mental health of affected populations. The February 2023 earthquakes in Syria and Turkey caused widespread devastation.

To explore the mental health impact of the earthquakes in Syria on the population across areas differentially damaged by the disaster.

This cross-sectional study conducted in Syria included 1406 adults recruited via social media platforms 1 month after the February 2023 earthquakes. Demographic information, earthquake exposure questions, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5: for probable post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9: for probable depression) and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7: for probable anxiety) were included to compare outcomes across areas severely, moderately and slightly damaged by the earthquakes.

Probable PTSD and GAD rates were higher in the severely (57.9 and 57.3% respectively) and moderately damaged regions (55.4 and 56.3% respectively) than in the slightly damaged regions (44.6 and 48.3% respectively) (PTSD: P < 0.001, GAD: P = 0.005). More participants in severely damaged regions (60.6%) reported symptoms of depression compared with moderately (53.1%) and slightly damaged (50.8%) regions (P = 0.003). Poorer mental health outcomes were associated with being female, single, younger, having a damaged or destroyed house, seeing something tragic in person and hearing tragic stories. Seeing something tragic on social media was not statistically significant.

This study highlights the higher prevalence of probable mental disorders in areas with more severe earthquake damage, with over 50% of the population reporting probable PTSD, depression or anxiety. The study also suggests a significant cumulative effect of these earthquakes on an already trauma- and disaster-affected population.

Little is known about individual European countries or regional capacity to respond to animal welfare emergencies during natural disasters; therefore, it is important to establish baseline information (eg, types of disasters, training) to enable more focused and data-driven actionable support for future disasters.

A 55-question survey was distributed by an email link to the 53 World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) European Region Members plus 1 observer country.

Forty-nine countries (91%, n = 54) responded to the survey. Fifty-one percent (25/49) indicated they incorporated animal welfare into their national disaster regulatory framework, whereas 59% (29/49) indicated animal welfare was incorporated in the Veterinary Service National Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Plan. Thirty-nine percent (19/49) indicated they had “no” or “limited” legal authority to manage animal emergencies in natural disasters. Floods, forest fires, and snowstorm/extreme cold were the 3 most commonly reported disasters over the last 10 years with 79% (27/34) reporting Veterinary Services was involved in managing these disasters.

The survey results indicated a wide range in the capacity of WOAH European Member Countries to respond to animal welfare in natural disasters, highlighting the gaps and potential areas of improvement in this arena.

Early-life adverse experiences can elevate the magnitude of the risk of developmental psychopathology, but the potential synergistic effects of multiple factors have not been well studied.

To determine whether prenatal exposures to maternal stress (Superstorm Sandy) and maternal cannabis use synergistically alter the risk of developmental psychopathology.

The study included 163 children (53.4% girls), longitudinally tracked (ages 2–5 years) in relation to the effects of two early-life adverse exposures (Superstorm Sandy and maternal cannabis use). Offspring were grouped by exposure status (neither, only maternal cannabis use, only Superstorm Sandy or both). DSM-IV disorders for offspring were derived from structured clinical interviews; caregiver-reported ratings of family stress and social support were also assessed.

A total of 40.5% had been exposed to Superstorm Sandy and 24.5% to maternal cannabis use. Offspring exposed to both (n = 13, 8.0%), relative to those exposed to neither, had a 31-fold increased risk of disruptive behavioural disorders (DBDs) and a seven-fold increased risk of anxiety disorders. The synergy index demonstrated that offspring with two exposures had synergistic elevation in risk of DBDs (synergy index, 2.06, P = 0.03) and anxiety disorders (synergy index, 2.60, P = 0.004), compared with the sum of single risks. Offspring with two exposures had the highest parenting stress and lowest social support.

Our findings are consistent with the double-hit model suggesting that offspring with multiple early-life adverse exposures (Superstorm Sandy and maternal cannabis use) have synergistically increased risks of mental health problems. Given the increasing frequency of major natural disasters and cannabis use, especially among women under stress, these findings have significant public health implications.

The extrication from rubble is particularly critical for the survival of the victims of an earthquake. Early repeated infusion of sedative agents (SAs) in the acute trauma phase may interfere with neural processes leading to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This study aimed to analyze the psychological status reported by the buried victims of the earthquake in Amatrice (August 24, 2016; Italy) by considering type of the SAs administered during the extrication maneuvers.

This was an observational study on data from 51 patients directly rescued under the rubble during the earthquake in Amatrice. During extrication maneuvers, a moderate sedation was administered by titrating ketamine (0.3-0.5mg/kg) or morphine (0.1-0.15mg/kg) with respect to the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS; between -2 and -3) in buried victims.

Three years following the rescue, the survivors were interviewed on their perceived health status and stress using a questionnaire which consisted of 17 items: the standard four-item set of healthy days core questions (CDC HRQOL-4); the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); and in addition, survivors were asked if they had a diagnosis for anxiety, depression, or for PTSD.

The study analyzed data from the complete clinical documentation of 51 survivors; 30 were males and 21 females, with an average age of 52 years. Twenty-six (26) subjects were treated with ketamine, while 25 were treated with morphine, during the extrication procedures. Concerning the quality-of-life analysis, only 10 survivors out of 51 perceived their health status as good; the others reported psychological disorders. The GHQ-12 scores showed that all survivors had psychological distress with a mean total score of 22.2 (SD = 3.5). Eighteen (18) victims declared to have had a diagnosis of generalized anxiety (35%), while 29 were treated for depression (57%) and PTSD (57%) by a specialist. With regards to the perceived distress level and the anxiety disorder, this analysis showed significant associations with SAs used during extrication, with a better performance for ketamine than for morphine.

These findings suggest investigating whether early sedation with ketamine directly in the disaster setting may promote the prophylaxis and reduce the risk of developing trauma-related disorders (TRDs) on the buried victims of major natural disasters in future studies.

Among natural disasters, earthquake is associated with heavy fatalities and financial damages, causing considerable mortality. The complications resulting from getting trapped in rubble, secondary traumas, obligation to reside in temporary shelters, along with other factors such as limited mobility, stress, and dehydration, predispose earthquake survivors to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The aim of the present study is to investigate the rate of DVT after an earthquake using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To perform the present study, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used. The protocol of this review study has been registered in the International Perspective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) with the code of CRD42021290375. Credible data resources including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, SID, and Embase were used for extracting relevant studies. Random effect model was used to perform the meta-analysis. I2 was ritualized to investigate heterogeneity across the studies. Publication bias of studies was evaluated using the Begg test.

In this study, 267 primary studies were identified and extracted. After removing the duplicate ones and the screening, eventually 12 final studies were chosen for the meta-analysis. Based on the meta-analysis results, the total rate of DVT was 9.07% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.32-10.81; I2 = 97.9%; P = 0<0.001). Analysis of DVT in the subgroups of the general population and patient survivors were 11.43% (95% CI: 9.06-13.79; I2 = 98%; P = 0<0.001) and 2.51% (95% CI: 0.04-4.63; I2 = 77.7%; P = 0.001). Also, based on the Begg test, the publication bias in the chosen studies was not considerable.

DVT rate in earthquake survivors is higher compared with other disasters, and over time it finds a growing trend. After earthquake, the focus of rescue and health-care teams is on individuals with observable injuries and damages. Because DVT is first asymptomatic but has fatal consequences, including pulmonary embolism and sudden death, it should be incorporated in health’s status assessment of earthquake-stricken people as well as screening and diagnostic programs of health-care providers.

Following the 2010-2011 floods and cyclones that affected 78% of Queensland, Australia, a State-wide mental health response was established. The response plan included a 24-hour access line. This study examines the effectiveness of the mental health screening program conducted via the State-wide health call center (13HEALTH) in 2012.

Callers to the 13HEALTH line were screened to assess the impact of the disaster. The 13HEALTH clinicians administered the Primary Care-Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PC-PTSD) screening measure. Those scoring more than two on the PC-PTSD Scale were provided information on the emotional impact of disasters and a referral to the post-disaster specialist mental health program (SMHP). For calls related to those under 18, a single-item question assessed behavioral or emotional changes since the natural disasters. Those with identified changes were offered a referral to a post-disaster SMHP.

The study evaluates the relationship between disaster exposure and the likelihood of 13HEALTH callers experiencing physical health concerns and unacknowledged mental health symptoms. The program’s cost for the 12 months of 2012 was assessed using data from the financial contract.

In 2012, there were 205,064 calls to 13HEALTH: 19,708 identified as residing in a flood or cyclone-affected area, 7,315 adults indicated they were personally affected, and 907 scored more than two on the PC-PTSD Scale. Only 700 agreed to a referral to the SMHP. There were 290 children under 18 assessed as at risk; 207 accepted a referral to a SMHP.

Regions that experienced a greater impact from the floods and cyclones were 1.3-2.3 times more likely to report being personally affected by the floods and cyclones. Similarly, these regions had more callers scoring more than two on the PC-PTSD Scale. The total cost of the 13HEALTH program for 2012 was $53,284 (AU) across all age groups.

The 13HEALTH general health post-disaster screening program demonstrates opportunistic screening may assist identification of those with unmet mental health needs. The data indicate an increased likelihood of personal exposure in the more affected regions with an increased risk of unrecognized psychological symptoms as assessed by the PC-PTSD Scale. However, more than 20% declined referral to a SMHP.

This study investigated how the proximity of disaster experience was associated with financial preparedness for emergencies.

The data used were from the 2018 National Household Survey, which was administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The working sample included 4779 respondents.

Logistic Regression showed that the likelihood of setting aside emergency funds tended to be the highest between 2-5 years after experiencing a disaster, which declined slightly but persisted even after 16 years. Recent disaster experience within 1 year did not show a significant impact, indicating a period of substantial needs. However, the proximity of disaster experience did not significantly affect the amount of money set aside.

It is suspected that increased risk perception related to previous experiences of disasters is more relevant to the likelihood of preparing financially; whereas other capacity-related factors such as income and having a disability have more effect on the amount of money set aside.

Physician mental health is critical during the recovery of natural and human-made disasters (NHDs), yet the accessibility of mental health resources to physicians has not been characterized. This study examined emergency medicine and trauma physician knowledge of and access to mental health resources in NHD settings.

The survey was electronically disseminated to the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Association of the Surgery of Trauma between February 4, 2020, and March 9, 2020. The 17-question survey assessed physician awareness and access to emergency preparedness resources at their institutions.

Of the responders, 86% (n = 229) were aware of written emergency response plans for their facility. While 31% were aware of the hospital’s mental health policies and resources outside of the emergency response plan, only 25% knew how to access these resources during and after NHDs. Finally, 10% reported the incorporation of mental health resources during institutional practice drills.

Physicians reported knowledge of emergency preparedness policies; however, significant gaps remain in physician knowledge and access to mental health resources NHD settings. As NHDs increase on a global scale, it is critical for health systems to ensure accessible infrastructure to support the mental well-being of health professionals.

First responders to disasters are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The trajectories of post-traumatic stress symptom severity differ among individuals, even if they are exposed to similar events. These trajectories have not yet been reported in non-Western first responders.

We aimed to explore post-traumatic stress symptom severity trajectories and their risk factors in first responders to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE)— a historically large earthquake that resulted in a tsunami and a nuclear disaster.

56 388 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) personnel dispatched to the GEJE were enrolled in this seven-year longitudinal cohort study. PTSD symptom severity was measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Trajectories were identified using latent growth mixture models (LGMM). Nine potential risk factors for the symptom severity trajectories were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression.

Five symptom severity trajectories were identified: “resilient” (54.7%), “recovery” (24.5%), “incomplete recovery” (10.7%), “late-onset” (5.7%), and “chronic” (4.3%). The main risk factors for the four non-resilient trajectories were older age, personal disaster experiences, and working conditions. These working conditions included duties involving body recovery or radiation exposure risk, longer deployment length, later or no post-deployment leave, and longer post-deployment overtime.

The majority of first responders to GEJE were resilient and developed few or no PTSD symptoms. A substantial minority experienced late-onset and chronic symptom severity trajectories. The identified risk factors can inform policies for prevention, early detection, and intervention in individuals at risk of developing symptomatic trajectories.

No significant relationships.

Natural disasters (NDs) are calamitous phenomena that can increase the risk of infections in disaster-affected regions. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) before and after earthquakes, floods, and droughts during the past four decades in Iran.

Malaria and CL data were obtained from the reports of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran for the years 1983 through 2017. The data of NDs were extracted from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). Interrupted time series analysis with linear regression modeling was used to estimate time trends of mentioned diseases in pre- and post-disaster conditions.

For the periods preceding the disasters drought and flood, a decreasing time trend for malaria and CL was found over time. The time trend of malaria rate preceding the 1990 earthquake was stable, a downward trend was found after 1990 disaster until 1997 (β coefficient: −10.7; P = .001), and this declining trend was continued after 1997 disaster (β coefficient: −2.7; P = .001). The time trend of CL rate preceding the 1990 earthquake had a declining trend, an upward trend was found after 1990 earthquake until 1999 (β coefficient: +8.7; P = .293), and a slight upward trend had also appeared after 1999 earthquake (β coefficient: +0.75; P = .839).

The results of the current study indicated the occurrence of earthquakes, floods, and droughts has no significant effect on the frequency of malaria and CL in Iran.