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Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2022; 30:271-282. [PMID: 36103682 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited evidence is currently available on the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the prevalence and geographic distribution of PTSD symptoms after SCI. METHODS After a search in the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, two reviewers independently summarized relevant studies published through 20 October 2021. Observational studies were included. The studies were eligible if they assessed PTSD symptoms using standard self-report or clinician-based instruments. Data and results were reported using the overall prevalence and the odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS 24 articles (5646 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms ranged from 6.33% (95% CI, 2.73-13.97) to 61.76% (95% CI, 52.07-70.61). Pooled analysis demonstrated that the overall prevalence of PTSD symptoms in SCI patients was significantly higher in developing countries (41.64%; 95% CI, 31.11-52.55) than in developed countries (19.35%; 95% CI, 14.66-24.51) (OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.08-1.42; p = .003). The highest prevalence of PTSD symptoms was reported in South Africa (56.25%; 95% CI, 47.01-65.08), followed by Sri Lanka (45.71%; 95% CI, 30.47-61.81), and Greece (43.55%; 95% CI, 31.94-55.91). By contrast, Norway (6.33%; 95% CI, 2.73-13.97), Switzerland/Germany (8.65%; 95% CI, 4.8-13.42), and Denmark (10.71%; 95% CI, 6.89-16.30) were found to have the lowest prevalence of PTSD symptoms after SCI. CONCLUSION Many traumatic SCI patients suffer from PTSD symptoms, and their prevalence seems to be higher in developing countries than in developed countries. These findings underscore the need to consider the psychological aspects of traumatic SCI.
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Kunz S, Stadler C, Peter C. Longitudinal course and predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms after spinal cord injury. Psychol Health 2020; 36:1115-1134. [PMID: 33017196 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1826483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined longitudinal changes in post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in individuals newly diagnosed with spinal cord injury (SCI) and tested various psychosocial and injury-related characteristics as predictors for interindividual differences in symptom courses. DESIGN Longitudinal data from the larger Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study were used. The sample consisted of 269 patients (70.6% male; Mage = 53.21) admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to SCI rehabilitation centers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE PTSS were measured at one and six months after injury using the Impact of Event Scale-6. RESULTS Latent change score modelling revealed no average change in PTSS in the sample, but significant variability in the individual symptom courses. Reliable change index analyses suggest that among individuals with an initial PTSS severity of clinical concern (n = 65), only 27.7% showed clinically significant decreases over time. Predictors explained 34% of the variance in PTSS change. Loss appraisals (β = .30, p < .001) and cause of injury (β = .16, p = .018) emerged as unique predictors. CONCLUSION Clinically elevated PTSS one month after SCI typically remain across the following months highlighting the need for early screening and intervention. Low loss appraisals were related to decreases in symptom severity and might therefore be a suitable intervention target for reducing PTSS after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kunz
- Empowerment, Participation, & Social Integration Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.,Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | | | - Claudio Peter
- Empowerment, Participation, & Social Integration Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.,Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Pollock K, Dorstyn D, Butt L, Prentice S. Posttraumatic stress following spinal cord injury: a systematic review of risk and vulnerability factors. Spinal Cord 2017; 55:800-811. [PMID: 28485385 DOI: 10.1038/sc.2017.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To summarise quantitatively the available evidence relating to pretraumatic, peritraumatic and posttraumatic characteristics that may increase or decrease the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following spinal cord injury (SCI). STUDY DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS Seventeen studies were identified from the PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science and PILOTS databases. Effect size estimates (r) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs), P-values and fail-safe Ns were calculated. RESULTS Individual studies reported medium-to-large associations between factors that occurred before (psychiatric history r=0.48 (95% CI, 0.23-0.79) P=0.01) or at the time of injury (tetraplegia r=-0.36 (95% CI, -0.50 to -0.19) P<0.01). Postinjury factors had the strongest pooled effects: depressed mood (rw=0.64, (95% CI, 0.54-0.72)), negative appraisals (rw=0.63 (95% CI, 0.52-0.72)), distress (rw=0.57 (95% CI, 0.50-0.62)), anxiety (rw=0.56 (95% CI, 0.49-0.61)) and pain severity (rw=0.35 (95% CI, 0.27-0.43)) were consistently related to worsening PTSD symptoms (P<0.01). Level of injury significantly correlated with current PTSD severity for veteran populations (QB (1)=18.25, P<0.001), although this was based on limited data. CONCLUSION Combinations of peri- and post-injury factors appear to be influential in the development of PTSD among persons with SCI. Further studies are needed to extrapolate these findings to the broader spinal cord-injured population. More longitudinal research, driven by multicausal models of causation such as the diathesis-stress model, is also needed to determine the temporality of PTSD risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Pollock
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - D Dorstyn
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - L Butt
- Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO, USA
| | - S Prentice
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Martz E, Livneh H. Do Posttraumatic Reactions Predict Future Time Perspective Among People With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus? REHABILITATION COUNSELING BULLETIN 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/00343552070500020701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Kisala PA, Victorson D, Pace N, Heinemann AW, Choi SW, Tulsky DS. Measuring psychological trauma after spinal cord injury: Development and psychometric characteristics of the SCI-QOL Psychological Trauma item bank and short form. J Spinal Cord Med 2015; 38:326-34. [PMID: 26010967 PMCID: PMC4445023 DOI: 10.1179/2045772315y.0000000022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the development and psychometric properties of the SCI-QOL Psychological Trauma item bank and short form. DESIGN Using a mixed-methods design, we developed and tested a Psychological Trauma item bank with patient and provider focus groups, cognitive interviews, and item response theory based analytic approaches, including tests of model fit, differential item functioning (DIF) and precision. SETTING We tested a 31-item pool at several medical institutions across the United States, including the University of Michigan, Kessler Foundation, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the University of Washington, Craig Hospital and the James J. Peters/Bronx Veterans Administration hospital. PARTICIPANTS A total of 716 individuals with SCI completed the trauma items RESULTS The 31 items fit a unidimensional model (CFI=0.952; RMSEA=0.061) and demonstrated good precision (theta range between 0.6 and 2.5). Nine items demonstrated negligible DIF with little impact on score estimates. The final calibrated item bank contains 19 items CONCLUSION The SCI-QOL Psychological Trauma item bank is a psychometrically robust measurement tool from which a short form and a computer adaptive test (CAT) version are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A. Kisala
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - David Victorson
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Natalie Pace
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - David S. Tulsky
- Correspondence to: David Tulsky, Professor and Director of the Center on Assessment Research and Translation, STAR Campus, University of Delaware, 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
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Otis C, Marchand A, Courtois F. Risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in persons with spinal cord injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2013; 18:253-63. [PMID: 23459174 DOI: 10.1310/sci1803-253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many of the events that cause spinal cord injury (SCI) are traumatic events that can result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It therefore appears that most persons with SCI are at risk for developing PTSD. This study retrospectively examined risk factors for PTSD symptoms in a sample of 71 persons with SCI. METHOD The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV was used to assess full and partial PTSD diagnoses. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure potential risk factors. RESULTS Results indicated that 11% of the participants met the criteria for full PTSD, and an additional 20% met the criteria for partial PTSD at some point after their SCI. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that trauma history, peritraumatic reactions, and intolerance of uncertainty predicted the number of PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION This study highlights the importance of trauma history, peritraumatic reactions, and intolerance of uncertainty in the development of PTSD symptoms. Patients at risk for PTSD should be identified early in the rehabilitation process and could benefit from psychological interventions with the aim of preventing PTSD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Otis
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal , Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Griffiths HC, Clinpsy D, Kennedy P. Continuing with life as normal:: positive psychological outcomes following spinal cord injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2013; 18:241-52. [PMID: 23459265 DOI: 10.1310/sci1803-241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research into the psychological sequelae of spinal cord injury (SCI) has focused on reports of psychological distress, despite the low prevalence rates of mental health difficulties. Positive psychological frameworks have begun to explore how some individuals do not report psychological distress, while appraisals have been posited as possible mediators of psychological outcome. Research into positive psychological outcomes in people with SCI is still in its infancy. OBJECTIVE To provide a description of the positive psychological outcomes experienced by people reporting low levels of psychological distress, to generate an understanding of how these individuals explain their positive outcomes, and to consider the implications for research, theory, and practice. METHOD Six participants (2 female, 4 male) reporting low levels of psychological distress were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule exploring their experiences. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze data. RESULTS THREE SUPERORDINATE THEMES WERE IDENTIFIED: "living a normal life, just doing things differently," "overcoming challenges: determination to succeed," and "using the resources available to me." The description and explanation of a positive psychological outcome was complex. For participants, positive psychological outcomes did not exclude experiencing psychological difficulty; moreover, they described an ability to overcome difficulty. Challenge-focused appraisals, social support, and meaningful activity were identified by participants as being important to psychological outcome. CONCLUSIONS Positive psychological outcomes following SCI are complex, and research and theory need to better understand the experience of individuals following SCI in order to inform clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- H C Griffiths
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, The Hillingdon Hospital , Uxbridge, London , UK
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Livneh H, Martz E. The impact of perceptions of health control and coping modes on negative affect among individuals with spinal cord injuries. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2012; 18:243-56. [PMID: 21512753 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-011-9225-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A wide range of demographic, medical, and personality and coping variables have been implicated as predictors of psychosocial outcomes following the onset of spinal cord injuries (SCI). The primary purpose of this study was to examine the role that perceptions of health control (internality, chance-determined, and other persons-determined) and coping strategies play in predicting respondents' negative affect, namely, reactions of depression and anxiety [i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)], as outcomes of psychosocial adaptation to disability. A second purpose was to investigate the potential role that time since injury (TSI) plays in moderating the influence of coping on psychosocial outcomes related to SCI. Ninety five survivors of SCI participated in the study by completing a battery of self-report measures. Two sets of multiple regression analyses were employed to address the study's goals. Findings indicated that after controlling the influence of gender, age, time since injury, and number of prior life traumas: (a) the use of disengagement coping successfully predicted both respondents' levels of depression and PTSD; (b) none of the perceptions of control of one's health significantly influenced psychosocial reactions to SCI, as indicated by depression and PTSD, although perceptions of chance control showed a moderate positive trend; and (c) time since injury did not moderate the relationships between coping and negative affect related to the onset of SCI. The implications of these findings to rehabilitation professionals are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanoch Livneh
- Rehabilitation Counseling Program, Department of Counselor Education, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, USA.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The overall objective of this study was to illustrate a systematic approach for capturing the psychologic-personal perspective in International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-based comprehensive research on spinal cord injury (SCI) in terms of what and how to measure. The specific aims were to identify (1) relevant areas of research for capturing the psychologic-personal factors in a study that is planned and conceptualized according to the comprehensive context of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, using SCI as a case in point; (2) a set of domains relevant for SCI research from a psychologic-personal perspective; and (3) suitable measurement instruments that can be considered for the assessment of those identified domains based on a set of predefined guiding principles. DESIGN The psychologic-personal factor structure was developed based on an item pool of 1246 entries from secondary analyses of available data from SCI studies. The domain set for psychologic-personal factors was identified through reviewing the scientific literature in PubMed and PsycInfo. The set of measurement instruments was collected using available measurement reviews, searches in the literature, instrument databases, and further sources and was selected using guiding principles. RESULTS Forty specific psychologic-personal factors, subdivided into seven areas of research, were identified: (1) sociodemographic personal characteristics, (2) the position in the immediate social and physical context, (3) personal history and biography, (4) feelings, (5) thoughts and beliefs, (6) motives, and (7) patterns of experience and behavior. The psychologic-personal factors domain set contains both cross-cutting outcome domains, namely quality-of-life, life satisfaction, subjective well-being, and sociodemographic personal characteristics, life events, positive and negative affect, perceived stress, locus of control, self-efficacy, purpose in life, coping, lifestyle, and personality. For each of the identified domains, a pool of measurement instruments was listed, and the application of predefined guiding principles for measurement instrument selection was exemplified for self-efficacy. It resulted in the selection of the General Self-Efficacy Scale by Schwarzer and Jerusalem (Measures in Health Psychology: A User's Portfolio. Causal and Control Beliefs. pp. 35-37; 1995). CONCLUSIONS The results of the current article contributed to creating a transparent protocol for the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort study, coordinated by the Swiss Paraplegic Research in Nottwil, Switzerland. This article also stresses the relevance of the comprehensive approach to SCI and the consideration of the psychologic-personal perspective in this approach. The study, therefore, hopes to encourage scientists to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the psychologic-personal perspective as a frame of reference for their research. Furthermore, the research reported in this article can inform the World Health Organization's future development of the personal factors classification in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
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Posttraumatic stress disorder and spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2010; 91:1182-7. [PMID: 20684898 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2010] [Revised: 05/20/2010] [Accepted: 05/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after spinal cord injury (SCI) in a sample averaging over 2 decades postinjury at assessment. Related objectives are to confirm the factor structure, compare subscales with those reported in a nonclinical sample, and identify the relationship of PTSD with depression. DESIGN Survey. SETTING A medical university in the Southeastern United States. PARTICIPANTS Participants were initially identified through specialty hospitals in the Midwest and Southeastern United States. A cohort of adults (N=927) with traumatic SCI of at least 1 year duration at enrollment in 2002 to 2003 and a minimum of 7 years at the time of assessment completed the study materials. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES PTSD was measured by the Purdue Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale-Revised, and depression was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item. RESULTS PTSD was reported by less than 10% of the participants. Item endorsement decreased as a function of years postinjury, primarily because of low rates of endorsement among those 21 or more years postinjury. Confirmatory factor analysis did not result in an acceptable fit for subscales, item sets, or factors previously reported in the literature. Participants scored higher than a nonclinical sample (reported in the literature) on the arousal and avoidance subscales but lower on the re-experiencing subscale. Item endorsement were lower for the first set of items that relate directly to the SCI itself, with the highest item endorsement for "have difficulty remembering important aspects of event." PTSD rarely occurred in the absence of a depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS PTSD does not appear to be highly prevalent in long-term SCI survivors, and endorsement of items related to re-experiencing and even recalling the injury are rare. Because SCI often is accompanied by mild traumatic brain injury, difficulty recalling the event may have an organic rather than psychologic component.
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Schaefer FC, Blazer DG, Koenig HG. Religious and spiritual factors and the consequences of trauma: a review and model of the interrelationship. Int J Psychiatry Med 2009; 38:507-24. [PMID: 19480362 DOI: 10.2190/pm.38.4.i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An increasing body of literature examines the association of religious factors with posttraumatic stress as well as posttraumatic growth. This review of selected empirical studies describes religious and spiritual factors that have been examined in their association with the consequences of trauma. A comprehensive model is proposed to explain the complex interrelationship. METHOD We performed a qualitative review of empirical research in August 2006, updated in February 2008, using Medline (1950-present), PsychInfo (1806-present), Web of Science (1900-present), and PILOTS (1960-present). We searched the terms posttraumatic, posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and religion, religious, spirituality, spiritual, meditation, and forgiveness. Based on supporting data from reviewed literature, we then developed a model for key religious factors derived from this review predictive of the response to trauma over time. RESULTS Twenty-three studies were identified that describe religious pre-trauma characteristics, religious trauma-appraisal and post-trauma adjustment factors. The association of these factors with posttraumatic stress and growth is described. CONCLUSIONS Intrinsic religious orientation, in particular, appears to be a useful construct in measuring religiosity in the association with the consequences of trauma. There are preliminary indications that the association between intrinsic religiosity and the consequences of trauma may change depending on the time after the event. Future studies should stratify outcome by the time after trauma or use longitudinal designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke C Schaefer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
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Martz E, Bodner T, Livneh H. Coping as a moderator of disability and psychosocial adaptation among Vietnam theater veterans. J Clin Psychol 2009; 65:94-112. [PMID: 19062168 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this archival research was to investigate whether coping moderated the association between disability status and the outcome of psychosocial adaptation while controlling for demographic variables, posttraumatic stress disorder, and environmental conditions and social support. This research analyzed data from the U.S.'s National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS; R.A. Kulka et al., 1990a). In this study, the existence of a disability significantly and negatively predicted psychosocial adaptation after controlling for specific variables. Further, the multiple regression analysis showed that the association of disability and adaptation was moderated by problem-solving coping, indicating that the negative effect of disability on adaptation was smaller for participants with lower levels of problem-solving coping. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Martz
- University of Memphis. Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
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Krahn G, McCarthy M, Westwood D, Powers L. Evaluation of an Innovative Methodology to Recruit Research Participants With Spinal Cord Injury Through Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008; 89:1341-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2007] [Revised: 10/31/2007] [Accepted: 11/02/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Chen ACC, Keith VM, Leong KJ, Airriess C, Li W, Chung KY, Lee CC. Hurricane Katrina: prior trauma, poverty and health among Vietnamese-American survivors. Int Nurs Rev 2007; 54:324-31. [PMID: 17958660 DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00597.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina revealed the disproportionate vulnerability of ethnic minority communities for emergency preparedness, disaster relief and health. Nurses need to analyse Katrina's health consequences for the most vulnerable segments of our society. AIM To examine factors contributing to differential health outcomes among the New Orleans Vietnamese community in response to Katrina. METHODS A sample of 113 adult Vietnamese Katrina survivors from New Orleans was recruited. A mixed-method approach, including survey and focus groups, was used to collect data. Survey questions were modified from standardized instruments to evaluate survivors' health status and factors contributing to health outcomes. Multivariate and content analysis were used to investigate effects of prior trauma, financial strain, social support and acculturation level in predicting survivors' health outcomes. RESULTS Findings suggested financial strain was the strongest risk factor for Vietnamese survivors' post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and physical and mental health post-disaster; while social support was a strong protective factor for health. Survivors who perceived higher impact from previous traumatic experiences had poorer physical health, but not PTSD symptoms or poor mental health after controlling for financial strain and social support, suggesting complex relationships among these measures in predicting PTSD symptoms and health. Less-acculturated individuals also reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms and poorer physical health. CONCLUSIONS Catastrophic events like Katrina can result in disproportionate risk of negative health outcomes among vulnerable populations. Nurses should take into account prior trauma, financial strain, social support network and acculturation level, to adequately address survivors' needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C-C Chen
- College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004-0698, USA.
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