Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review

The rise in the global temperature from greenhouse gases linked to human activities have influenced the increase in frequency of natural disasters, including hurricanes, tropical cyclones, floods, wildfires, and droughts. Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) are particularly susceptible to...

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Main Authors: Maya Newman, Carl Froilan D. Leochico
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-10-01
Series:The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278222000347
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author Maya Newman
Carl Froilan D. Leochico
author_facet Maya Newman
Carl Froilan D. Leochico
author_sort Maya Newman
collection DOAJ
description The rise in the global temperature from greenhouse gases linked to human activities have influenced the increase in frequency of natural disasters, including hurricanes, tropical cyclones, floods, wildfires, and droughts. Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) are particularly susceptible to extreme weather events. Disaster planning for CSHCN is an important public health issue. The aim of this study is to contribute to the limited body of literature related to the climate crisis and CSHCN, and to summarize possible ways to improve the disaster preparedness of families of CSHCN. Using OVID Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Joanna Briggs Institute, a scoping review of studies from 2011 to 2021 related to climate change and disability was conducted. After screening, 242 articles were captured and eight articles on pediatric disaster preparedness for CSHCN were analyzed. Several studies assessing emergency preparedness knowledge of families with CSHCN demonstrated that the majority do not have a disaster kit, emergency plan, information cards, or awareness of a shelter. One study showed no difference in preparedness of families with CSHCN in two geographic regions prone to different natural disasters. Two studies evaluated families with CSHCN dependent on electricity for survival and less than 50% had battery backups for prolonged power failure. Families of CSHCN are generally underprepared for a natural disaster, regardless of the type of disaster. Based on the included studies, the following improved the level of preparedness of families with CSHCN: disaster preparedness education, an emergency kit, an eight-item checklist provided in the emergency room, a clinic nurse coordinator, as well as programs and policies that improved social support, self-efficacy, and resilience.
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spelling doaj.art-2ff47f7ee5d342a4a04f1eea95e55c6f2022-12-22T03:53:36ZengElsevierThe Journal of Climate Change and Health2667-27822022-10-018100145Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping reviewMaya Newman0Carl Froilan D. Leochico1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Corresponding author at: 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Luke's Medical Center, Global City and Quezon City, Philippines; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, PhilippinesThe rise in the global temperature from greenhouse gases linked to human activities have influenced the increase in frequency of natural disasters, including hurricanes, tropical cyclones, floods, wildfires, and droughts. Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) are particularly susceptible to extreme weather events. Disaster planning for CSHCN is an important public health issue. The aim of this study is to contribute to the limited body of literature related to the climate crisis and CSHCN, and to summarize possible ways to improve the disaster preparedness of families of CSHCN. Using OVID Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Joanna Briggs Institute, a scoping review of studies from 2011 to 2021 related to climate change and disability was conducted. After screening, 242 articles were captured and eight articles on pediatric disaster preparedness for CSHCN were analyzed. Several studies assessing emergency preparedness knowledge of families with CSHCN demonstrated that the majority do not have a disaster kit, emergency plan, information cards, or awareness of a shelter. One study showed no difference in preparedness of families with CSHCN in two geographic regions prone to different natural disasters. Two studies evaluated families with CSHCN dependent on electricity for survival and less than 50% had battery backups for prolonged power failure. Families of CSHCN are generally underprepared for a natural disaster, regardless of the type of disaster. Based on the included studies, the following improved the level of preparedness of families with CSHCN: disaster preparedness education, an emergency kit, an eight-item checklist provided in the emergency room, a clinic nurse coordinator, as well as programs and policies that improved social support, self-efficacy, and resilience.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278222000347ChildrenDisabilityDisasterClimatePreparednessScoping review
spellingShingle Maya Newman
Carl Froilan D. Leochico
Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Children
Disability
Disaster
Climate
Preparedness
Scoping review
title Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
title_full Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
title_fullStr Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
title_short Promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
title_sort promoting disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs a scoping review
topic Children
Disability
Disaster
Climate
Preparedness
Scoping review
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278222000347
work_keys_str_mv AT mayanewman promotingdisasterpreparednessforchildrenwithspecialhealthcareneedsascopingreview
AT carlfroilandleochico promotingdisasterpreparednessforchildrenwithspecialhealthcareneedsascopingreview