The role of occupational therapists in the contexts of a natural disaster: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose: To identify and inform the experience and roles of occupational therapists (OTs) in the contexts of a natural disaster. Method: This scoping review was conducted via five steps: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant academic articles published between 2000 and 2014 in English, (3) select articles based on the inclusion criteria, (4) chart the data and (5) collate, summarise, and report the results of the selected articles. The results were presented using descriptive numerical and thematic analyses. Results: OTs can prepare a plan for evacuation of people with disabilities and their accommodation before a disaster occurs. Immediately after a disaster, they can provide emergency services for injuries and provide education and training in coping skills for psychological distress via a community-based rehabilitation approach. Consistent services for survivors’ mental health and for building the OTs’ capacity as part of disaster management are focussed on in the recovery phase. Conclusion: The potential roles of OTs across the spectrum of a natural disaster were identified via this scoping review. This review will help OTs to become involved in a disaster management system for vulnerable groups across the three phases of preparedness to, respond to and recovery from a disaster.

Implication for Rehabilitation

• Occupational therapists can be involved in disaster management to prepare for, respond to and recover from a natural disaster.

• Consistent services for psychological distress are needed for people affected by a disaster to return to normalcy.

• Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is an important approach to help a wider group of people respond to a natural disaster in a timely manner.

Keywords:

• Community-based rehabilitation
• disaster management
• disaster preparedness
• disaster response
• disaster recovery
• occupational therapy

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Sue Baptiste from School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University for the provision of the specific material created by the Word Federation of Occupational Therapists for this study. We also thank Lim Chun-Yi and Pranay Jindal who are the PhD candidates in School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University for helping to review the selected academic articles for this study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.