Registered physiotherapists’ knowledge of terms related to responding to evacuees during disasters and its status of use

<p>Objectives　Healthcare professionals are expected to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to protect the health status of individuals, particularly those with frailty, following unprecedented disasters. This study focused on the terms “individual evacuation plan,” “residents requiring assistance in evacuation,” and “welfare shelters” among physiotherapists, and the degree of knowledge and factors associated with knowledge of these terms were examined to consider ways for physiotherapists to participate more actively in disaster response.</p><p>Methods　A web-based survey was conducted among members of the Fukushima Physical Therapy Association from March 8–31, 2023. The survey items included basic attributes, knowledge of “individual evacuation plan,” “residents requiring assistance in evacuation,” and “welfare shelters,” and the presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors. The association between knowledge and length of career as a physiotherapist, presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors were examined using the χ² test and residual analysis. Additionally, respondents were asked regarding their understanding of the physiotherapy recipients’ “individual evacuation plan” and participation in formulating those plans. Those who understood and participated in those plans were asked to provide a free-form response about the use of the “individual evacuation plan” in providing routine physiotherapy and specific activities.</p><p>Results　Of the 1,645 participants, 171 (10.4%) responded. The respondents’ mean age was 38.4 ± 8.5 years. Seven (4.1%) ，21 (12.3%) ，and 17 (9.9%) respondents answered that they knew “individual evacuation plan,” “residents requiring assistance in evacuation,” and “welfare shelters,” respectively. Those who knew the specifics of the recipients’ “individual evacuation plans” used them to conduct evacuation drills that assumed actual conditions and shared information with other healthcare professionals. The presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, length of career, and experience supporting disaster survivors were associated with knowledge of “individual evacuation plan,” “residents requiring assistance in evacuation,” and “welfare shelters,” whereas the presence of own evacuation experience was not.</p><p>Conclusion　The percentage of current physiotherapists who knew “individual evacuation plan,” “residents requiring assistance in evacuation,” and “welfare shelters” ranged from 4.1–12.3%. Enhancing curricula in pre-graduate education and ensuring learning opportunities for physiotherapists may be helpful in collaboratively participating in disaster responses.</p>