Physiotherapy in Disaster Management: Physiotherapist View
Physiotherapy in Disaster Management: Physiotherapist View
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70284/njirm.v8i4.1275Keywords:
Disaster, Physiotherapists, Phase of disaster, RehabilitationAbstract
Background: A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Disasters result immediate, significant loss of life and long-term physical impairments such as spinal cord injuries (SCI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputations, fractures, and peripheral nerve injuries; related mental health conditions including situational anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder occur concomitantly. The principal non-governmental organizations (NGOs) providing disaster relief do not include physiotherapists as part of their healthcare teams. Also after literature review it was found that there are limited studies which shows role of physiotherapy in disaster management. Objective: To find role of physiotherapy in Disaster management. Methods: Descriptive study, included physiotherapists involved in disaster. Semi structured Questionnaire was used. Results: 10 participants were involved and the results suggest there is role of physiotherapists in different phase of disaster management. Interpretations: There is role of physiotherapist in disaster management but Physiotherapists are also not involved in disaster management by govt. organizations. Conclusion: There is significant role of physiotherapists in different phase of disaster management. [Navjyot T NJIRM 2017; 8(4):32-34]
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