Effect of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear power plant accident on the distribution of physicians in three devastated prefectures of north-east Japan.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25516015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 震災問題と人文学・社会科学
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: Inoue Kazuo 帝京大学, 医学部, 教授 (70275709)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 東日本大震災 / 医師分布 / 津波 / 福島第一原発事故 / 岩手県 / 宮城県 / 福島県

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Great East Japan Earthquake shocked the basis of communities as a natural mega-disaster. This study examined effect of the disaster on the distribution of physicians. First, we examined the three affected prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima). The results indicated no effect of the tsunami on the distribution of physicians in the affected regions. On the other hand, physicians decreased obviously in areas close to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant even after adjusting population of community. Second, we examined the two close prefectures to the Plant (Miyagi and Fukushima). Physicians who worked in close communities to the Plant outflowed into far communities more than those who did not.In addition, younger physicians and those earlier in their careers were more likely to outflow than other physicians.

Free Research Field

地域医療学