The Psychosocial Impact of Natural Disasters Among Adult Survivors

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Type of Academic Paper
Target Audience
Facts Learned from the Article
Using the Information in Clinical Practice
How the Article Could Be Improved
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The study by Warsini, West, Mills, & Usher (2014) addresses the problem of the psychological fallout of natural disasters. It is based on a literature review. The utilized studies investigated the prevalence of “post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), depression, anxiety, acute stress disorder, and suicide intention” among victims of such natural disasters as “earthquake, flood, tsunami, hurricane, landslide, volcano, and bushfire” (Warsini et al., 2014, p. 431). After outlining the results of these researches in a table, the summarize these findings; the frequency of the named psychological issues across the studies is compared; in addition, some risk factors for this or that disorders are also exposed (Warsini et al., 2014).

Type of Academic Paper

The authors conducted a search through several medical and other scientific databases, and also carried out a hand search; out of the 1642 articles found during the searching procedures, 39 articles were selected and reviewed (Warsini et al., 2014, pp. 420-421). Therefore, it may be stated that the evidence employed in this study most closely resembles the Level V evidence, that is, the evidence obtained from systematic reviews.

Target Audience

The studies reviewed by Warsini et al. (2014) were conducted globally, and investigated the results of natural disasters in numerous countries, for example, Italy, Taiwan, China, the U.S., and others. In addition, the topic that this study is concerned with can be important in any country that is stricken by natural disasters. Therefore, the article is intended for any healthcare professionals providing psychological aid for victims of natural disasters; in particular, the authors emphasize that mental health nurses play a significant role in addressing the aftermath of the disasters (Warsini et al., 2014, p. 434). Taking into account that these nurses need to be well-prepared to address the problems of patients and be able to demonstrate calm and confident behavior (Ennis, Happell, & Reid-Searl, 2015), it is clear that such nurses may find this review useful in preparing for both clinical and fieldwork.

Was the Information Easy to Understand?

The information provided by Warsini et al. (2014) was quite easy to understand, for the authors provide it in a rather structured manner. The findings of all the reviewed studies are provided in a table, which makes it easy for readers to quickly assess the studies on their own. Furthermore, the results of the research are classified according to the type of natural disasters, which also allows for an easier comparison of these findings and for creating a general picture of the problem (Warsini et al., 2014).

Facts Learned from the Article

Warsini et al. (2014) provide some facts that might be useful for a researcher or healthcare professional. In particular, the authors reveal certain methodological issues that arise when the psychological fallout of natural disasters is studied and the problems of the currently existing studies. For instance, it is stated that most research has been concentrating on such problems as PSTD, anxiety, and depression; however, many other psychological problems such as sleep disorder or suicidal intentions were very poorly researched (Warsini et al., 2014, pp. 431, 434). Furthermore, it is stressed that most post-disaster studies are conducted half a year after the event and that it is important to develop a research instrument that could be utilized very soon after the disaster, and would be compliant with the ethical requirements (Warsini et al., 2014, p. 434). As for the data related to the aftermath of the disasters, it was new for the author of the paper that, first, education levels and female gender are risk factors for developing psychological problems after the disaster (Warsini et al., 2014, p. 433), and, second, that anxiety problems may occur in more than 40% of the victims, whereas the occurrence of PSTD may strike as many as 81% of victims of disasters (Warsini et al., 2014, pp. 432-433).

Using the Information in Clinical Practice

The data provided in the article may be utilized in clinical practice in several ways; for instance, medics who are aware of the high levels of prevalence of psychological disorders, and the possibility of suicidal intentions, are better equipped to help disaster victims.

Is the Article Recommended to Other Students?

This article might be recommended to students who are going to deal with victims of natural disasters in their future careers, for they must be aware of the psychological problems that such victims face. In addition, students who plan on researching victims of natural disasters will find this article useful because it summarizes the currently existing knowledge and exposes the gaps in it.

How the Article Could Be Improved

It might be possible to improve the article by adding tables with the results of the authors’ summary of studies, for instance, a table that compares occurrence rates of various disorders after different natural disasters across the reviewed studies.

Does the Article Make One Wish to Further Investigate the Topic?

The article may interest its readers in further investigating the topic by pointing out the current gaps in the current research; for instance, one might wish to search for possible methods of investigating the psychological problems of victims immediately after a disaster. In addition, one might wish to find out more about the details of particular mental disorders that victims are faced with.

Conclusion

Therefore, it should be stressed that the study by Warsini et al. (2014) provides an extensive literature review about the problem of psychological disorders that victims of natural disasters face. The results of this review may prove useful for both the researchers of this topic and for healthcare professionals working with victims of natural disasters.

References

Ennis, G., Happell, B., & Reid-Searl, K. (2015). Clinical leadership in mental health nursing: The importance of a calm and confident approach. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 51(1), 57-62. Web.

Warsini, S., West, C., Mills, J., & Usher, K. (2014). The psychosocial impact of natural disasters among adult survivors: An integrative review. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35(6), 420-436. Web.

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