Strengthening self-assistance against disaster-related toileting problems in persons with disabilities

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870861
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social welfare and social work studies; Social systems engineering/Safety system
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2015-2016); National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities (2014)
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Kyo 東京大学, 高齢社会総合研究機構, 特任研究員 (60719326)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 災害時要援護者 / 排泄 / 頸髄損傷 / 障害 / 防災

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research was to deepen our understanding of ways in which we can strengthen self-assistance against disaster-related toileting problems in persons with disabilities. We conducted an interview survey with persons with cervical cord injury. Through this, we illustrated the anxiety about disaster-related toileting problems and identified its buffers: having reliable caregivers, staying in a safe place, and storing required items. Using a qualitative approach, we extracted three other themes as promoting factors of buffers: travel experiences, experiences of failure, and information from peers. In the internet-based questionnaire survey, we found an association between "registration to the official list of people requiring special assistance in a disaster" and "having heard of a disaster experience from a peer." Thus, the results suggest that information from a peer would strengthen self-assistance against disaster-related toileting problems in people with disabilities.

Free Research Field

地域保健