2023 Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 77-85
Background: The disease activity and functional status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）are strongly affected by natural disasters. Understanding the real voices and experiences of patients could help improve disaster preparedness of medical providers and governments. Herein we conducted a narrative analysis of responses to a questionnaire survey of patients with RA who were affected by a natural disaster.
Methods: Patients with RA living in an area affected by a heavy rain disaster in 2018 were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey in 2020. Descriptions by the patients in the open-ended text fields were categorized and analyzed.
Results: Among 60 respondents, 30 included narrative items. There were 32 requests for hospital and pharmacy services. Many patients wanted online consultations and prescriptions. There were 16 requests for evacuation centers with the most frequent requests for the centers being facility management and infection control. Causes of worsening general condition, like overloading from cleaning up or carrying heavy objects during the disaster, were described. Respondents described mental stress worsening over time, which had persisted to the time of the survey. A patient described lowering the dose of his medication on his own due to his concerns about drug shortages.
Conclusions: Patients with RA must be educated before a natural disaster on how to deal with changes in their physical and mental condition during the natural disaster. Medical providers and governments must develop a system for medical care and drug procurement in the event of a disaster.
