title: Disaster preparedness among families of children with special health care needs.
abstract: Families with children with special health care needs may present a challenge for disaster responders. This study examined the level of personal disaster preparedness among this at-risk population in relation to the general population, and explores whether special health care needs or perception of disaster risk affects preparedness levels. A convenience sample of 145 families presenting to an urban tertiary care children's hospital was surveyed using a previously validated instrument to gather information on levels of preparedness and factors influencing preparedness. In spite of significant special health care needs and concern about disasters, families remain unprepared for a disaster event. Health care and psychosocial support workers are in a unique position to increase preparedness levels in this at-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heritage Hall #327, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. lrbaker@uab.edu
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012066:Relief Work; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult