Temporal Trends in Treatment Interruption among the Victims of Heavy Rain Disasters in Japan: Findings from Emergency Medical Team Data.

Objectives: Treatment interruptions in disaster victims are concerning, owing to an increase in natural disasters and the growing elderly population with chronic conditions. This study examined the temporal trends in treatment interruptions among victims of 2 recent major heavy rain disasters in Japan: West Japan heavy rain in 2018 and Kumamoto heavy rain in 2020.

Methods: Data for this study were derived from the national standardized medical data collection system called the "Japan Surveillance in Post-Extreme Emergencies and Disasters.

Exploring the Gender and Age Demographics of Patients Treated by Emergency Medical Teams during Disasters.

Background: Standardized health-data collection enables effective disaster responses and patient care. Emergency medical teams use the Japan Surveillance in Post-Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (J-SPEED) reporting template to collect patient data. EMTs submit data on treated patients to an EMT coordination cell.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Professional Fulfillment Index among healthcare professionals: A validation study.

Objectives: Translation of the Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI) into Japanese would be more useful than the currently developed scales for appropriately measuring burnout and professional fulfillment in healthcare professionals. This study aimed to develop the Japanese version of the PFI and examine its internal consistency, structural validity, and convergent validity in healthcare professionals.

Methods: Healthcare professionals in Japan were recruited online.

Association Between Attitudes Toward Trauma Informed Care and Psychological First-Aid Training Experience Among Health Care Professionals in Japan.

Objective: Trauma informed care (TIC) is an important approach for people who have experienced trauma. Although psychological first aid (PFA) may be effective training in TIC, no study reported an association between PFA training and TIC. This study aimed to investigate the association between PFA training and attitudes toward TIC among health care professionals in Japan.

Containment of COVID-19 outbreaks with lower incidence and case fatality rates in long-term care facilities by early intervention of emergency response teams.

Objective: To examine whether post-outbreak early-phase interventions by emergency response teams (ERTs) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) contribute to containment with lower incidence and case-fatality rate of COVID-19 and analyse the required assistance.

Methods: Records from 59 LTCFs (28 hospitals, 15 nursing homes, and 16 homes) assisted by ERTs after the COVID-19 outbreak, between May 2020 and January 2021, were used for the analysis. Incidence and case-fatality rates among 6,432 residents and 8,586 care workers were calculated.

Emergency Medical Team Response during the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake 2018: J-SPEED Data Analysis.

Introduction: In the last ten years, Japan has experienced several large-scale earthquakes with devastating social and health impacts. Earthquakes directly and indirectly cause a variety of health problems. Further investigation is required to increase preparedness and preventive efforts.

Prevalence of Mental Health Problems among Patients Treated by Emergency Medical Teams: Findings from J-SPEED Data Regarding the West Japan Heavy Rain 2018.

It is crucial to provide mental health care following a disaster because the victims tend to experience symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia during the acute phase. However, little research on mental health during the acute phase has been conducted, and reported only in terms of the temporal transition of the number of consultations and symptoms. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine how mental health care needs are accounted for in the overall picture of disaster relief and how they change over time.

Mental health needs associated with COVID-19 on the diamond princess cruise ship: A case series recorded by the disaster psychiatric assistance team.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection prevention measures have led to a variety of mental health issues. Although several self-care methods have been recommended for those quarantined, evidence regarding how best to support quarantined people experiencing a mental health crisis is limited. In February 2020, the Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined in Yokohama port, Japan following a passenger testing positive for COVID-19.

Impact of the ARCH Project on National Capacity Development on Disaster Health Management among the ASEAN Member States and Japan.

Objective: This report tries to capture the impact of the Project for Strengthening the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH Project) in each ASEAN Member State (AMS) and Japan as a result of the ARCH Project implementation since July 2016.

Methods: Impact on AMS: The analysis of the impact on AMS was based on a comparison of the impact of the project on management and coordination of Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), and application of the project outcome in actual emergency operations compared to the previous status in each AMS.Impact on Japan: The history of the development of disaster medicine in Japan was reviewed, with an aim to analyze the impact of supporting AMS through the ARCH Project on Japan, and the possibility of bi-directional cooperation in the future.

Emergency Medical Teams' Responses during the West Japan Heavy Rain 2018: J-SPEED Data Analysis.

Introduction: Rainfall-induced floods and landslides accounted for 20.7% of all disaster events in Japan from 1985 through 2018 and caused a variety of health problems, both directly and indirectly, including injuries, infectious diseases, exacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions, and psychological issues. More evidence of health problems caused by floods or heavy rain is needed to improve preparedness and preventive measures; however, collecting health data surrounding disaster events is a major challenge due to environmental hazards, logistical constraints, political and economic issues, difficulties in communication among stakeholders, and cultural barriers.

Longitudinal Change of Psychological Distress among Healthcare Professionals with and without Psychological First Aid Training Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to compare longitudinal change of the psychological distress of a group with psychological first aid (PFA) experience and a group without PFA experience among physicians and other healthcare professionals from before the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to during the pandemic. The baseline survey was conducted in January 2020 (T1). The respondents in T1 were invited to participate in March (T2) and November 2020 (T3).

Longitudinal change in depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals with and without COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from October 2020 to June 2021 in Japan.

This study aimed to compare the longitudinal change in depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals in Japan who are willing to receive novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination and those who are unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The baseline survey was conducted in October 2020 (Survey time 1: T1); respondents in T1 were invited to participate in May 2021 (Survey time 2: T2). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Prevalence and Characteristics of Earthquake-Related Head Injuries: A Systematic Review.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review to determine the prevalence and characteristics of earthquake-associated head injuries for better disaster preparedness and management.

Methods: We searched for all publications related to head injuries and earthquakes from 1985 to 2018 in MEDLINE and other major databases. A search was conducted using "earthquakes," "wounds and injuries," and "cranio-cerebral trauma" as a medical subject headings.

Expected Scopes of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM): Report on the Expert Workshop at the Annual Conference for the Japanese Association for Disaster Medicine 2020.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners established the WHO Thematic Platform for Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Research Network (HEALTH EDRM RN) in 2016 to respond to the increasing burden of recent health emergencies and disasters. The mission of the HEALTH EDRM RN, whose secretariat is located at the WHO Kobe Centre (WKC), is to promote global research collaboration and strengthen research activities to inform policies and programs by generating new evidence to manage health risks associated with all types of emergencies and disasters. With the strong support and involvement of all WHO regional offices, the HEALTH EDRM RN now works with more than 200 global experts and partners to pursue its mission.

Disseminated Varicella zoster infection with abdominal pain and periarterial fat stranding in a patient taking pomalidomide.

Background: Disseminated Varicella zoster virus infection (DVI) is a severe infection associated with severe abdominal pain of unknown cause. We report a case in which periarterial (the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery) fat stranding (PFS) on computed tomography (CT) was the presumed cause of abdominal pain in a patient taking pomalidomide.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain.

Japan DMAT operations in the Diamond Princess cruise ship: COVID-19 medical operation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify positive effects from the Japan Disaster Medical Assistant Team (DMAT) medical operation in the Diamond Princess cruise ship (DP).

Methods: Japan DMAT dispatched and managed the medical operation for DP passengers and crew members. The records of communication logs for the DMAT were evaluated.

Medical Transport for 769 COVID-19 Patients on a Cruise Ship by Japan Disaster Medical Assistance Team.

The Diamond Princess cruise ship, carrying 3711 passengers and crew members, docked at Yokohama Port in Japan on February 3, 2020. A quarantine was immediately instituted because 1 passenger who had disembarked in Hong Kong was confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). After the quarantine began, all passengers and crew were tested using the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction assay on the ship, 696 of whom tested positive.

Proposal for Reforming Prehospital Response to Chemical Terrorism Disasters in Japan: Going Back to the Basics of Saving the Lives of the Injured by Securing the Safety of the Rescue Team.

Introduction: Having experienced the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995, Japan has established extremely strict rules on handling injured victims before they are sent to a hospital. As a result, it takes a long time before rescue actions are taken. This report aims to propose a reform to change the system that focuses on saving lives.

Long-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Stenting for Blunt Renal Artery Injuries with Stenosis: A Report of Five Consecutive Cases.

Background: Renal artery stenting is performed for renal artery injuries to preserve renal function and prevent renovascular hypertension. However, its indications are controversial and its long-term prognosis remains unknown. Here, we evaluate the characteristics and long-term outcomes of renal artery stenting for blunt renal artery injuries at our institution.