Bhalla Mary Colleen, Burgess Amos, Frey Jennifer, Hardy William
1Department of Emergency Medicine,Summa Akron City Hospital,Akron,OhioUSA.
2Department of Emergency Medicine,Northeast Ohio Medical University,Rootstown,OhioUSA.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015 Oct;30(5):443-6. doi: 10.1017/S1049023X15005075. Epub 2015 Sep 15.
The elderly population has proven to be vulnerable in times of a disaster. Many have chronic medical problems for which they depend on medications or medical equipment. Some older adults are dependent on caregivers for managing their activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, and their instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as transportation. Problem A coordinated effort for disaster preparation in the elderly population is paramount. This study assessed the potential needs and plans of older adults in the face of a local disaster.
The setting was a community-based, university-affiliated, urban emergency department (ED) that sees more than 77,000 adult patients per year. A survey on disaster plans and resources needed if evacuated was distributed to 100 community-residing ED patients and visitors aged 65 years and older from January through July 2013. Means and proportions are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Data were collected from 13 visitors and 87 patients. The mean age was 76 years, and 54% were female. Thirty-one responded that they had a disaster plan in place (31/100; CI, 22.4-41.4%). Of those 31, 94% (29/31; CI, 78.6-99.2%) had food and water as part of their plan, 62% (19/29; CI, 42.2-78.2%) had a supply of medication, and 35% (12/31; CI, 21.8-57.8%) had an evacuation plan. When asked what supplies the 100 subjects might need if evacuated, 33% (CI, 23.9-43.1%) needed a walker, 15% (CI, 8.6-23.5%) needed a wheelchair, 78% (CI, 68.6-85.7%) needed glasses, 17% (CI, 10.2-25.8%) needed a hearing aid, 16% (CI, 9.4-24.7%) needed a glucometer, 93% (CI, 86.1-97.1%) needed medication, 14% (CI, 7.8-22.4%) needed oxygen, 23% (CI, 15.2-32.5%) needed adult diapers, and 21% (CI, 13.2-30.3%) had medical equipment that required electricity. Many of the subjects also required help with one or more of their ADLS, the most common being dressing (17%; CI, 10.3-26.1%), or their IADLS, the most common being transportation (39%; CI, 29.7-49.7%). Only 42% (CI, 32.3-52.7%) were interested in learning more about disaster preparation.
Only a minority of the older adults in the study population had a disaster plan in place. Most of the respondents would require medications, and many would require medical supplies if evacuated.
事实证明，老年人群体在灾难时期较为脆弱。许多老年人患有慢性疾病，需要依靠药物或医疗设备。一些老年人在日常生活活动（如穿衣）和工具性日常生活活动（如出行）方面依赖照料者。问题 针对老年人群体的备灾协调工作至关重要。本研究评估了老年人在面临当地灾难时的潜在需求和计划。
研究地点为一家基于社区、与大学相关的城市急诊科，每年接待超过 77000 名成年患者。2013 年 1 月至 7 月，对 100 名年龄在 65 岁及以上的社区居住的急诊科患者和访客进行了一项关于灾难计划及疏散时所需资源的调查。报告了均值和比例以及 95%置信区间（CI）。
收集了 13 名访客和 87 名患者的数据。平均年龄为 76 岁，54%为女性。31 人表示他们有灾难计划（31/100；CI，22.4 - 41.4%）。在这 31 人中，94%（29/31；CI，78.6 - 99.2%）的计划中有食物和水，62%（19/29；CI，42.2 - 78.2%）有药品储备，35%（12/31；CI，21.8 - 57.8%）有疏散计划。当被问及这 100 名受试者疏散时可能需要哪些物资时，33%（CI，23.9 - 43.1%）需要助行器，15%（CI，8.6 - 23.5%）需要轮椅，78%（CI，68.6 - 85.7%）需要眼镜，17%（CI，10.2 - 25.8%）需要助听器，16%（CI，9.4 - 24.7%）需要血糖仪，93%（CI，86.1 - 97.1%）需要药品，14%（CI，7.8 - 22.4%）需要氧气，23%（CI，15.2 - 32.5%）需要成人尿布，21%（CI，13.2 - 30.3%）有需要用电的医疗设备。许多受试者在一项或多项日常生活活动方面也需要帮助，最常见的是穿衣（17%；CI，10.3 - 26.1%），或在工具性日常生活活动方面，最常见的是出行（39%；CI，29.7 - 49.7%）。只有 42%（CI，32.3 - 52.7%）有兴趣了解更多关于备灾的信息。
研究人群中只有少数老年人有灾难计划。大多数受访者疏散时需要药品，许多人还需要医疗用品。
