Factors Related to Evacuation Intentions of Power-Dependent Home Care Patients in Japan.

This study investigated factors affecting disaster preparedness and evacuation intentions among home-care patients dependent on electrical power for life support. Health professionals interviewed 53 home-care patients using the Kanazawa and Kochi Disaster Preparedness Checklist. About half of the participants requiring continuous artificial ventilation or aspiration indicated that they would not or could not evacuate following a disaster-even though their lives could be at risk. The availability of emergency medical equipment for use during a power outage was positively associated with the desire to evacuate. Our results indicate the need for improved systems to assist power-dependent home-care patients.