Loss of medications and health aids after disasters or evacuation
Citation: Ochi S, Hodgson S, Landeg O, et al. Disaster-driven evacuation and medication loss: a systematic literature review. PLoS Currents Disasters. 2014;1:1-29.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes.
Funding sources: This project was not funded.
What is this? In this systematic review, the authors searched for peer-reviewed articles on the loss of medications or medical aids after disasters and disaster-related evacuation. They restricted their searches to articles published in English between January 2003 and August 2013. The authors searched in September 2013 and found 70 articles.
What was found: A substantial number of people lost medication after a disaster or during evacuation. Prescription refill was ranked as the third most common need in relief settings. Medical devices were also lost, such as prescription glasses, hearing aids, dentures, and mobility aids.
Implications: The authors of the review stated that emergency planning should include up-to-date medical records and stockpiles of medications. Efforts should be made to educate patients about medication loss and encourage them to have ready supplies of medications in different locations outside of the home, such as at work or school.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context of place of residence.
This summary was written by Briann Mensour, checked by Jawaria Karim and finalized by William Summerskill.