Implementing eHealth with radiation records: a new support package for evacuees returning to areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station

T Ohba,K Yoshida,Y Kuroda,K Honda,A Goto,T Ohira,K.E Nollet,M Murakami,K Tanigawa,Y Yumiya,H Nakano,A Kumagai

doi:10.1051/radiopro/2020083

Abstract

Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident, numerous initiatives emerged to address the needs of evacuees, including those eligible to return home. These came from multiple channels, timely in many cases, but in retrospect, needing better coordination. By embracing eHealth, we are attempting to coordinate efforts in Fukushima intended to link returnees with health information and care providers, not only for radiological protection in particular, but also for health promotion in general. We aim to establish a comprehensive support system for residents in municipalities around the FDNPS by developing a digital application for interactive communication regarding radiation and health promotion and to link the tool to other resources provided by local health care providers and radiation specialists. This paper explains the progress of our innovative trial to introducing eHealth in areas affected by the FDNPS accident. Based on international recommendations for developing a digital tool in response to a nuclear accident, we designed a comprehensive support package including development and implementation of the application, data management, and health counselling and ethical considerations arising from such outreach. Our trial of connecting disaster-affected citizens to health services using informatics could serve as a model eHealth program for long-term restoration after a nuclear accident.

Highlights

As decontamination progressed in areas affected by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident, the Japanese government started lifting evacuation orders and restoring infrastructure
Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident, numerous initiatives emerged to address the needs of evacuees, including those eligible to return home
By embracing eHealth, we are attempting to coordinate efforts in Fukushima intended to link returnees with health information and care providers, for radiological protection in particular, and for health promotion in general

Summary

Introduction

As decontamination progressed in areas affected by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) accident, the Japanese government started lifting evacuation orders and restoring infrastructure. Noteworthy was that a citizens’ group started its own activities to measure environmental radiation, aiming to guide autonomous decision making about daily activities (Ando, 2016). They started dialogue meetings to discuss matters of daily life with domestic and international professionals (Schneider et al, 2019). These comprise just some of the services for evacuees provided through multiple channels, implemented by different organizations, and supported by various funding sources. As the average age of returnees is higher than that of the entire cohort of evacuees, attention to their psychological and socioeconomic status (Murakami et al, 2019) is necessary to help them express their own needs and accept support

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Results