Abstract:

Chronic diseases are one of the main causes of death all over the world. Disasters don’t only exacerbate chronic diseases, but they also contribute to the development of new ones. The most defenseless group in disasters are individuals with chronic diseases. The recent disasters in developed countries have demonstrated that taking precautions against disasters is very important for people with chronic diseases. It is known that individuals with chronic diseases face many difficulties due to disasters, and treating these individuals after disasters is a very challenging process. Nurses plan health education before, during, and after disasters and ensure the participation of the community in these trainings. They also support improving citizens’ awareness of health. Healthcare providers, especially nurses, have critical roles in the transportation and delivery of healthcare services to patients and their families in order to reduce the impact of disasters. Lack of access to medical services after a disaster is one of the major causes of death. The aim of this review is to find out the difficulties encountered during the provision of medical services for individuals with chronic diseases at every stage of disaster management, to reveal the solutions for these difficulties, and to identify effective strategies for chronic disease management. Such strategies can assist healthcare personnel in disaster preparedness and planning to design appropriate strategies to manage chronic diseases in disaster-affected populations, potentially improving health outcomes during and after disasters.

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