Mixed-Methods Pilot Study: Disaster Preparedness of Families With Children Followed in an Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic.

Abstract

Children with special healthcare needs are a vulnerable population in disasters. Special-needs families tend to be less prepared for a disaster than the general public. The purpose of this pilot project was to examine the disaster preparedness levels of families in an intestinal rehabilitation (IR) clinic. We administered an anonymous survey to a convenience sample of IR clinic families and conducted 2 focus groups. Descriptive analyses were used for survey data; Atlas.ti was used to analyze focus group data. Survey findings revealed that 69% of families lacked an emergency supply kit, and 93% did not have a clinician-completed emergency information form. On a scale of 1-10, the mean confidence in their family's disaster preparations was 4.9. The overarching theme from focus group discussions was challenges and/or barriers to disaster preparedness. IR clinic families are generally unprepared for a disaster. These findings are highly relevant to our goal of developing a disaster survival toolkit for the IR families. Toolkits are being distributed in the IR clinic.