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Pain and Natural Disaster
Author(s) -
Guetti Cristiana,
Angeletti Chiara,
Paladini Antonella,
Varrassi Giustino,
Marinangeli Franco
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12010
Subject(s) - medicine , natural disaster , natural (archaeology) , medical emergency , geography , archaeology , meteorology
The treatment for pain in emergency medicine is a matter of increasing interest. Available data indicate that in both normal conditions and during major‐emergencies, the majority of healthcare providers are culturally and professionally unprepared to adequately treat acute pain conditions. In case of natural disasters, opioid drugs are often unavailable. Moreover, no guidelines or validated protocols provide adequate indications for the treatment for pain in case of massive emergencies. Training of the medical and nursing staff, in both formal and continuing, or on‐the‐job education is needed to adequately face a devastating emergency. Unfortunately, there is an inadequate level of training among healthcare professionals, even in highly seismic areas, and the source of aid is frequently limited, especially in the immediate aftermath of a disaster to those already present at the scene. Pain inadequately treated may modify the characteristics of the pain itself. Pain is no longer considered just a symptom, but itself becomes an autonomous pathology heavily influencing the social life and psycho‐social aspects of a person. In the disastrous situation following an earthquake, an inadequate treatment of pain was the major violation of the psycho‐physical integrity of individuals and a severe violation of their rights, as human beings and patients.