title: Questionnaire survey on the continuity of home oxygen therapy after a disaster with power outages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After the Great East Japan Earthquake, oxygen-dependent patients in areas experiencing power outages could not continue home oxygen therapy (HOT) without oxygen cylinders. The purpose of this study was to examine use of oxygen cylinders in areas experiencing power outages and the effects of HOT interruption on patients' health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were mailed to 1106 oxygen-dependent patients and HOT-prescribing physicians in Akita, near the disaster-stricken area. We investigated patients' actions when unable to use an oxygen concentrator and classified the patients based on oxygen cylinder use. Patients who experienced an interruption of or reduction in oxygen flow rate by their own judgment were assigned to the "interruption" and "reduction" groups, respectively; those who maintained their usual flow rate were assigned to the "continuation" group. Differences were tested using analysis of variance and the χ2 tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 599 patients responded to the questionnaire. Oxygen cylinders were supplied to 574 patients (95.8%) before their oxygen cylinders were depleted. Comparison of the continuation (n=356), reduction (n=64), and interruption (n=154) groups showed significant differences in family structure (p=0.004), underlying disease (p=0.014), oxygen flow rate (p<0.001), situation regarding use (p<0.001), knowledge of HOT (p<0.001), and anxiety about oxygen supply (p<0.001). There were no differences in changes in physical condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients could receive oxygen cylinders after the disaster. Some patients discontinued their usual oxygen therapy, but their overall health status was not affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Narumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shioya
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D055866:Earthquakes; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004560:Electricity; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen