title: Participation and quality of life outcomes among individuals with earthquake-related physical disability: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A literature review to evaluate quality of life and participation outcomes of individuals with earthquake-related physical injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review was performed using National Health Service (NHS) Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL and AMED electronic databases were searched from 1966 to January 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies that measured quality of life or participation outcomes among individuals who acquired a physical disability as a result of an earthquake injury were included, with no limits on research design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The search yielded 961 potentially relevant articles after removal of duplicates. Of these, only 8 articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies were rated for quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A narrative synthesis was performed due to the heterogeneity of the included studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Injured earthquake survivors in developing countries experience diminished participation and reduced quality of life. Small sample sizes and lack of uniformity in outcome measurement limit generalizability. No studies from developed countries were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To maximize our understanding of quality of life and participation in injured earthquake survivors, future research should consider both the functional consequences of the injury and the environmental impact of the earthquake. The research should be based on representative samples of the injured earthquake survivors and use validated condition-specific outcome measures that are clearly defined within the publications. In addition, research should include all countries that are affected by earthquakes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8011 Christchurch, New Zealand. jonunnerley@ResearchAndRehab.com.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nunnerley
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woodfield
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055866:Earthquakes; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology