Database of Health Workforce Innovations
659
The role of occupational therapists in the contexts of a natural disaster: a scoping review
The people affected by a disaster may not only sustain physical injuries (e.g. burns, amputation and brain injuries) but also psychological distress (e.g. anxiety, fear and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]), which sometimes lasts longer than physical injuries.[6] To relieve this damage, the role of rehabilitation has been acknowledged and research has supported the use of rehabilitation across the spectrum of a disaster
Who-Occupational therapists involved in disaster relief
What- A study comparing the roles of OT's as part of disaster relief teams (consideration of psychological distress, co-ordination of OT's with various organisations, Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approach)
When- disasters during the years 2000-2014
Where- internationally
How- This review revealed six roles in preparedness (i.e. design plans, assess risks and resources, educate on the evacuation of people with disabilities, obtain sufficient knowledge about disaster management and functions of key organisations, inform stakeholders and the public about OTs’ capacity and partner with agencies and organisations), three roles in emergency response (i.e. implement OT clinical practise, assess resources available and educate first responders) and three roles in the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction stage of a disaster (i.e. implement OT clinical practise, educate first responders and build OTs’ capacity
What- A study comparing the roles of OT's as part of disaster relief teams (consideration of psychological distress, co-ordination of OT's with various organisations, Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approach)
When- disasters during the years 2000-2014
Where- internationally
How- This review revealed six roles in preparedness (i.e. design plans, assess risks and resources, educate on the evacuation of people with disabilities, obtain sufficient knowledge about disaster management and functions of key organisations, inform stakeholders and the public about OTs’ capacity and partner with agencies and organisations), three roles in emergency response (i.e. implement OT clinical practise, assess resources available and educate first responders) and three roles in the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction stage of a disaster (i.e. implement OT clinical practise, educate first responders and build OTs’ capacity
- New roles
- Expanded roles
- Occupational Therapists
Natural disasters responses from 2000-2014 that involved occupational therapists
- Critical Care
- Emergency Medical Services
The incorporation of OT's into existing relief projects/ aid systems
Research Intervention - outcome data available
Jeong, Y., Law, M., DeMatteo, C., Stratford, P., & Kim, H. (2015). The role of occupational therapists in the contexts of a natural disaster: a scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38(16), 1620–1631.
Yunwha Jeong
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Institute for Applied Health Sciences, McMaster University
South America