The Role of the Occupational Therapist in Disaster Areas: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Disasters are increasingly more frequent events on our planet. During disaster the role of the occupational therapist will require a more specific operative framework within nongovernmental organizations and community health services. DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the evidence that highlight occupational therapist's role in disaster area through a systematic review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Research on MEDLINE was performed. All articles from 2005 to 2015 concerning rehabilitation and occupational therapy in disaster areas were included. RESULTS: Ten studies were selected to be included in this review. Four interesting points emerged: the importance of having rehabilitation intervention in postdisaster situations, the necessity to include a rehabilitation team in the early phase of disaster response, the need to provide a method to address the difficult evacuation, and finding the safest method of transport of people with preexisting disabilities and new injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of evidence with respect to specific intervention of the occupational therapist's role in a disaster situation is limited. However some evidence suggests that it could be a good means for reducing the number of medical complications and deaths of persons with preexisting disabilities. The evidences found highlight the necessity to create a multidisciplinary team addressing needs in disasters situation, in which the occupational therapist could certainly contribute.