Exploring the experiences and learning of young primary care physicians in disaster-affected areas: A qualitative study on the Great East Japan Earthquake

Daisuke Son; Morito Kise; Taijin Kaku; Yukiko Obara; Hirotaka Onishi

doi:10.1002/jgf2.634

Exploring the experiences and learning of young primary care physicians in disaster-affected areas: A qualitative study on the Great East Japan Earthquake

J Gen Fam Med. 2023 Jun 19;24(4):268-271. doi: 10.1002/jgf2.634. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Daisuke Son¹, Morito Kise², Taijin Kaku³, Yukiko Obara⁴, Hirotaka Onishi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community-Based Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Tottori University Yonago Tottori Japan.
² Kawasaki Health Cooperative Kuji Clinic Kawasaki Kanagawa Japan.
³ Ishibashi Clinic Higashi-Kurume, Tokyo Japan.
⁴ Machida Okanoue Hospital Machida, Tokyo Japan.
⁵ Department of International Cooperation for Medical Education, International Research Center for Medical Education The University of Tokyo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Japan.

Abstract

Background: Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a critical role in disaster medicine. However, it is unclear how PCPs who provide chronic support to disaster-affected areas learn from their experiences.

Methods: This qualitative study investigates the learnings of young PCPs who provided medical care during the chronic phase of the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster.

Results: Thematic analysis of interviews with five physicians revealed the challenges faced by them and their learnings in providing medical support to disaster-affected areas.

Conclusions: They not only learned medical skills but also humanistic aspects such as empathizing with the survivors' loss.

Keywords: Great East Japan Earthquake; disaster medicine; family medicine residents; primary care physicians; qualitative research.