title: Participation a Key Factor for Life Recovery After Disaster: A Grounded Theory Study in an Iranian Context.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since life recovery after disasters is a subjective and multifaceted construct influenced by different factors, and survivors' main concerns and experiences are not clear, the researchers intended to explore this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in 2011 - 2014 based on the grounded theory approach. Participants were selected by purposeful sampling followed by theoretical sampling to achieve conceptual and theoretical saturation. Data were collected through interviews, observation, focus group discussion, and document reviews. Data were analyzed by Strauss and Corbin's (2008) recommended approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transcribed data from 26 interviews (managers, health care providers, and receivers), field notes, and other documents were analyzed, and 1,652 open codes were identified. The codes were categorized, using constant comparative analysis, into five main categories including reactive exposure, subsiding emotions, need for comprehensive health recovery, improvement of normalization (new normality achievement), and contextual factors. The process of life recovery after disaster was also explored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results clarified a deep perception of participants' experiences after disaster. The path of life recovery after disasters involves participants' striving to achieve a comprehensive health recovery, which starts with the need for all-inclusive health recovery as a main concern; this is the motivator for a responding strategy. This strategy is participatory, and the process is progressive; achievement of a new normality is the final goal, with new development and levels of empowerment.
authors.affiliation: Birjand Health Qualitative Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakhaei
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khankeh
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Masoumi
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Parsa-Yekta
keywords: Disaster; Grounded Theory; Life Recovery; Participation; Recovery