https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1546-0993
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Abstract
Thirteen years have elapsed since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. Approximately 30,000 evacuees remain. Various reconstructions in the disaster area are currently ongoing. More than 20 years have been taken to complete the decommissioning the nuclear reactors. This study aims to develop a method for studying and following up on the health and health-related states of the victims and the disaster area using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). We adopted two newspapers with adequate personal information from the interviewees and qualitatively analysed the content of interviews of 1,910 victims (1,116 male and 794 female; age range: 1–98). The responses of each interviewed victim were coded into three components of ICF (Body Functions, Activities and Participation and Environmental Factors). We obtained 7,812 ICF codes describing the victims’ conditions and the disaster area. Of these, 55 high-frequency codes were quantitatively selected. They characteristically represented suffering caused by different elements of the calamity: the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear power plant accident. We noted the shortcomings of ICF during disasters, developed a new method, proposed the idea of a ‘disaster ICF’ in the process and discussed its applications.
Impact Statement
Massive natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, eruptions, typhoons (cyclones, hurricanes) and tornados, occur all over the world every year. These events are reported immediately by the media. Such news is generally covered for a few days or weeks at most, so many audiences are becoming less concerned about victims. However, as many victims suffer for several months or years at least, they need long-term support; in particular, health and health-related. A new system, for victims and supporters (including professionals and general citizens) to share information to restore their normal daily lives, is required. To address the need, the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is effective as a standardised common language. We have developed a new method for analysing various conditions of disaster victims and areas using ICF codes.
Reviewing Editor:
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
About the author
Shin-ichi Susato, Doctor of Engineering. Certified Social Worker.
The author was engaged in the design and production of mechatronic products in private companies. He also taught electronics and computer science in technical schools. He has conducted research on anthropometry (the measurement of human physical dimensions, which is used in physical anthropology and ergonomics [human factors]) and on goniometry (the measurement of joint motion range and used in orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation medicine) in his academic life. He has been examining a new development in the field of health and welfare by making use of his knowledge and experience in engineering, medicine and sociology.
Data availability statement
Each newspaper interview article is available on the following newspaper publisher databases (written in Japanese): The Asahi Shimbun, http://www.asahi.com/information/db/; Fukushima Minpo, https://www.minpo.jp/cdrom). The ICF coding datasets produced by the author are not shared to maintain the privacy of interviewees.