Impact of Nursing Interventions on Physical Recovery of Disaster Victims: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32583/pskm.v15i3.3768Keywords:
disaster, disaster victims, nurse, nursing intervention, physical recoveryAbstract
Disasters, whether natural or human-induced, frequently lead to significant physical injuries and complex health conditions among affected populations. In such contexts, nurses serve as frontline responders who deliver critical care aimed at promoting physical recovery and preventing further complications. This scoping review explores and synthesizes existing literature on the impact of nursing interventions on the physical recovery of disaster victims. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A systematic search was carried out in three major electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science targeting articles published between 2015 and 2025. The following Boolean search string was used: ((disasters) OR ("disaster victims") OR ("disaster survivors")) AND ((nurses) OR ("nursing intervention") OR ("nursing care")) AND (("physical recovery") OR ("wound healing") OR ("pain management") OR ("mobility improvement") OR ("quality of life")). Following the application of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, three studies were selected for the final synthesis. The findings reveal that nursing interventions such as wound care, pain management, infection control, physical rehabilitation, and health education play a vital role in enhancing the physical recovery of individuals affected by disasters. The success of these interventions is often shaped by factors including timeliness, cultural appropriateness, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In conclusion, this review underscores the essential contribution of nurses in disaster recovery efforts and highlights the need for continued development of evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and standardized nursing practices to optimize health outcomes in post-disaster settings.
References
Al Harthi, M., Al Thobaity, A., Al Ahmari, W., & Almalki, M. (2020). Challenges for Nurses in Disaster Management: A Scoping Review. Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 13, 2627-2634. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S279513
Al Thobaity, A., Plummer, V., & Williams, B. (2017). What are the most common domains of the core competencies of disaster nursing? A scoping review. Int Emerg Nurs, 31, 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2016.10.003
Aliakbari, F., Hammad, K., Bahrami, M., & Aein, F. (2015). Ethical and legal challenges associated with disaster nursing. Nursing Ethics, 22(4), 493-503. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733014534877
Baethge, C., Goldbeck-Wood, S., & Mertens, S. (2019). SANRA-a scale for the quality assessment of narrative review articles. Res Integr Peer Rev, 4, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-019-0064-8
Brewer, C. A., Hutton, A., Hammad, K. S., & Geale, S. K. (2020). A feasibility study on disaster preparedness in regional and rural emergency departments in New South Wales: Nurses self-assessment of knowledge, skills and preparation for disaster management. Australas Emerg Care, 23(1), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2019.12.005
Brewer, C. A., Ranse, J., Hammad, K., & Hutton, A. (2022). Experiences of rural and remote nurses during and following disasters: a scoping review. Rural Remote Health, 22(4), 7230. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH7230
Camilo Ferreira, R., Moorhead, S. A., Zuchatti, B. V., Correia, M. D. L., Montanari, F. L., & Duran, E. C. M. (2023). Nursing interventions and activities for patients with multiple traumas: An integrative review. Int J Nurs Knowl, 34(4), 254-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/2047-3095.12401
Carvalho, M. L., Freitas, C. M., & Miranda, E. S. (2019). Physical rehabilitation in the context of a landslide that occurred in Brazil. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1615. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7964-x
Ehrlich, C., Lewis, D., New, A., Jones, S., & Grealish, L. (2022). Exploring the role of nurses in inpatient rehabilitation care teams: A scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud, 128, 104134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104134
Fithriyyah, Y. N., Alda, A. K., & Haryani, H. (2023). Trends and ethical issues in nursing during disasters: A systematic review. Nursing Ethics, 30(6), 753-775. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330231155602
Gosney, J., Reinhardt, J. D., Haig, A. J., & Li, J. (2011). Developing post-disaster physical rehabilitation: role of the World Health Organization Liaison Sub-Committee on Rehabilitation Disaster Relief of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 43(11), 965-968. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0890
Gutenbrunner, C., Stievano, A., Stewart, D., Catton, H., & Nugraha, B. (2021). Role of Nursing in Rehabilitation. J Rehabil Med Clin Commun, 4, 1000061. https://doi.org/10.2340/20030711-1000061
Hasan, M. K., Younos, T. B., & Farid, Z. (2021). Nurses' knowledge, skills and preparedness for disaster management of a Megapolis: Implications for nursing disaster education. Nurse Educ Today, 107, 105122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105122
Jia, J., Wan, C., Zhang, Y., Wang, D., Liu, Z., Meng, X., & Chen, H. (2024). Influences of Early Rehabilitation Nursing on Motor Function, Swallowing Function as Well as Quality of Life in Stroke Patients. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, AT10164. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38940785
Khan, F., & Amatya, B. (2021). Update in Disaster Rehabilitation: An International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Perspective. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 100(11), 1021-1026. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001760
Khan, F., Amatya, B., Gosney, J., Rathore, F. A., & Burkle, F. M., Jr. (2015). Medical Rehabilitation in Natural Disasters: A Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 96(9), 1709-1727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.02.007
Kilic, N., & Simsek, N. (2019). The effects of psychological first aid training on disaster preparedness perception and self-efficacy. Nurse Educ Today, 83, 104203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104203
Kimin, A., Nurachmah, E., Lestari, F., & Gayatri, D. (2021). Factors affecting nurses' ability to provide effective care in a disaster response: a review. J Public Health Res, 11(2), jphr.2021.2732. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2021.2732
Koksal, K., Mert, I. S., & Aslan, H. (2024). Nursing as an earthquake survivor: A qualitative study on nurses traumatized by the Kahramanmaras earthquake in Turkey. Int Nurs Rev, inr.13061. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.13061
Labrague, L. J., Hammad, K., Gloe, D. S., McEnroe-Petitte, D. M., Fronda, D. C., Obeidat, A. A., Leocadio, M. C., Cayaban, A. R., & Mirafuentes, E. C. (2018). Disaster preparedness among nurses: a systematic review of literature. Int Nurs Rev, 65(1), 41-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12369
Lee, H., & Kim, Y. (2025). Trajectories of quality of life among disaster victims: A national longitudinal study. Int Nurs Rev, 72(1), e13015. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.13015
Liu, L., Liu, Z. F., Zhu, H. Y., & Xu, H. Q. (2024). Effect of quality nursing intervention on wound healing in patients with burns: A meta-analysis. Int Wound J, 21(3), e14717. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14717
Long, A. F., Kneafsey, R., Ryan, J., & Berry, J. (2002). The role of the nurse within the multi-professional rehabilitation team. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37(1), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02059.x
Ma, H. (2024). Analysis of the Effect of Rehabilitation Nursing Intervention on Functional Recovery in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Bone and Arthrosurgery Science, 2(1), 38-43. https://doi.org/10.26689/bas.v2i1.5675
Ma, W., Li, S., Wang, X., Chang, Z., & Ma, J. (2024). The impact of refined nursing intervention on neurological function recovery and prognosis improvement in patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm intervention. Int J Neurosci, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207454.2024.2333478
Mota, M., Cunha, M., Santos, E., Figueiredo, Â., Silva, M., Campos, R., & Santos, M. (2021). Eficácia da intervenção da enfermagem pré-hospitalar na estabilização das vítimas de trauma. Revista de Enfermagem Referência, V Série(Nº6). https://doi.org/10.12707/rv20114
Mtiraoui, A., Mahjoubi, H., Achour, A., Ghardallou, M., & Nakhli, J. (2025). The Impact of Psychological First Aid Training (RAPID‐PFA) on Self‐Efficacy, Perceived Competencies and Disaster Preparedness of Nursing Students in Tunisian Public Institutions: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 33(1), e70019. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5973.70019
Pierre, S. D., Ramos, M. C., & Shimizu, H. E. (2024). What Are the Best Practices for Nursing Care during an Earthquake? A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050535
Rathore, F. A., Gosney, J. E., Reinhardt, J. D., Haig, A. J., Li, J., & DeLisa, J. A. (2012). Medical rehabilitation after natural disasters: why, when, and how? Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 93(10), 1875-1881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.05.018
Ren, L., Zhang, C., Zhao, L., Li, C., Zhang, L., & Xue, X. (2021). Influence of incentive nursing intervention on recovery of burn patients after vacuum sealing drainage. Int Wound J, 18(6), 787-795. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13582
Rong, J. (2024). Analyzing the Impact of Comprehensive Risk Control Nursing Intervention on Postoperative Pain and Recovery in Elderly Orthopedic Surgery Patients. American Journal of Health Behavior, 48(5), 1307-1315. https://doi.org/10.5993/ajhb.48.5.11
Sadri, A. M., Ukkusuri, S. V., Lee, S., Clawson, R., Aldrich, D., Nelson, M. S., Seipel, J., & Kelly, D. (2017). The role of social capital, personal networks, and emergency responders in post-disaster recovery and resilience: a study of rural communities in Indiana. Natural Hazards, 90(3), 1377-1406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3103-0
Said, N. B., & Chiang, V. C. L. (2020). The knowledge, skill competencies, and psychological preparedness of nurses for disasters: A systematic review. Int Emerg Nurs, 48, 100806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2019.100806
Scrymgeour, G. C., Smith, L., & Paton, D. (2016). Exploring the Demands on Nurses Working in Health Care Facilities During a Large-Scale Natural Disaster. Sage Open, 6(2), 2158244016655587. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016655587
Su, Y., Wu, X. V., Ogawa, N., Yuki, M., Hu, Y., & Yang, Y. (2022). Nursing skills required across natural and man-made disasters: A scoping review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(10), 3141-3158. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15337
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., . . . Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann Intern Med, 169(7), 467-473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
Umbrell, C. E. (2006). Trauma case management: a role for the advanced practice nurse. J Trauma Nurs, 13(2), 70-73. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043860-200604000-00009
Unsal, B., Ozbudak Arica, E., & Hobek Akarsu, R. (2024). Ethical issues after the earthquake in Turkey: A qualitative study on nurses' perspectives. Int Nurs Rev, inr.13048. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.13048
Xue, C. L., Shu, Y. S., Hayter, M., & Lee, A. (2020). Experiences of nurses involved in natural disaster relief: A meta-synthesis of qualitative literature. J Clin Nurs, 29(23-24), 4514-4531. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15476
Yan, Y. E., Turale, S., Stone, T., & Petrini, M. (2015). Disaster nursing skills, knowledge and attitudes required in earthquake relief: Implications for nursing education. Int Nurs Rev, 62(3), 351-359. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12175
Yin, H., He, H., Arbon, P., & Zhu, J. (2011). A survey of the practice of nurses' skills in Wenchuan earthquake disaster sites: implications for disaster training. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(10), 2231-2238. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05699.x
Yu, H., & Wu, L. (2024). Analysis of the Effects of Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions on Promoting Functional Recovery in Neurology and General Surgery Intensive Care Patients. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 30(12), 236-241. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38518143
Zhang, D., Chen, X., Huang, Q., & Song, X. (2024). The Clinical Intervention Effects of Evidence-based Nursing Measures in General Anesthesia Patients in the Postoperative Recovery Period. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, AT9682. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38870511
Ziapour, A., Darabi, F., Rostami, F., Motevaseli, S., Sharma, M., Chaboksavar, F., Yildirim, M., & Kianipour, N. (2024). Investigating perceived core disaster competencies of nurses in Iran: A case study of northwest hospitals. Public Health Nurs, 41(5), 970-978. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13367
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jurnal Ilmiah Permas: Jurnal Ilmiah STIKES Kendal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.