[Traumatic response experiences: one year after Typhoon Morakot].
BACKGROUND
Disaster-related mental health problems have been a focus of recent international scholarly interest. Typhoon Morakot caused exceptional destruction in Southern Taiwan, and victims suffered physically, psychologically and financially in its aftermath.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the post-traumatic response and coping behaviors of victims one year after Typhoon Morakot.


METHODS
Researchers used a phenomenological method with purposive sampling and interviewed 10 Typhoon Morakot victims. Data were collected using deep, semi-structured interviews. All interview sessions were tape-recorded. Researchers used Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological method to analyze data.


RESULTS
Three common themes emerged in subjects following their disaster experiences. The first was residual traumatic response, including fear of continued flooding, fear of future flood recurrence, indifference in responses, and living on alert; The second was insecurity in daily life due to changed surroundings, including anxiety and a heavy sense of loss; The third was conformity in coping behaviors, including shifting attention away from the disaster, turning to a pluralistic support system, having an optimistic outlook on life, and living in the moment.


CONCLUSIONS
Investigating traumatic response experiences and coping behaviors one year after the Typhoon Morakot disaster can help guide healthcare professionals to promote evidence-based health and nursing services. Findings also provide information to healthcare providers essential to improving nursing quality for victims of disasters.
Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, Republic of China.
Chih-Hui
CH
Chen
Mei-Ting
MT
Chi
Hui-Man
HM
Huang
Fan-Ko
FK
Sun
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013624:Taiwan