title: Risk factors for long-term post-traumatic stress disorder among medical rescue workers appointed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake response in China.
abstract: This study aims to determine the risk factors for clinically-significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Chinese medical rescue workers one year after the response to the Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008. A sample of 337 medical workers who performed response work within the first three months of the event completed an online questionnaire, which included information on demographics, social support, the management and organisation of the disaster response, and an assessment of PTSD. Symptoms consistent with PTSD were prevalent in 17 per cent of the rescue workers. Those who developed PTSD symptoms were more likely to have been injured, experienced a water shortage, been disconnected from family and friends during the response, and have passive coping styles and neurotic personalities. Factors that cannot be changed easily, such as personality traits, should be evaluated prior to deployment to ensure that rescue workers at higher risk of PTSD are provided with adequate support before and during deployment.
authors.affiliation: MPH was a graduate student at the Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, United States at the time when most of the work on this manuscript was conducted and is currently a doctoral student at the Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, United States.
authors.forename: Ellen J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.affiliation: MA.Sc is a trainee with the Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program and an epidemiologist at the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: PhD is the Guinea Country Director at the Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States.
authors.forename: Lise D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.affiliation: MPH is a mentor with the Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: MPH is a trainee with the Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: MD PhD is a Representative (in China) with the China-US Collaborative Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D060731:Emergency Responders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018635:Rescue Work; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: earthquake; mental health; personality; psychology; rescue workers; risk factor