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Identifying Barriers to Personal Medical Preparedness for Hurricanes among Adults with Hypertension
Claire Romaine1,2, Laura M Perry1, Erin Peacock1
1https://ror.org/04vmvtb21Tulane University School of Medicine Center for Health Outcomes, Implementation, and Community-Engaged Science and John Deming Department of Medicine; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Objectives:
Experts recommend preparedness to manage chronic diseases in case of disaster-related resource disruption. This study's goal is to identify factors underlying personal medical preparedness (PMP) among participants from a hurricane-prone region.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was completed during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season with 120 insured adults age ≥50 in Southeast Louisiana with hypertension and ≥1 regular medication. PMP was measured using the validated Household Emergency Preparedness Instrument Access and Functional Needs Section (HEPI-AFN). Multivariable logistic regression analysis tested associations between PMP and exposure variables, including demographics, health, and hurricane experience.
Results:
The sample included 50% women, 43% Black, with mean age 62.6 (SD = 8.1) years and mean 51.3 (SD = 18.1) years living in hurricane-impacted area. Participants were prepared on an average 79% (SD = 21) of applicable HEPI-AFN items; 42 (35%) were prepared on 100% of PMP items. The most missed item was having 2 weeks of extra medication; open-responses noted refill policies as a common barrier to PMP. No factors were associated with increased odds of PMP.
Conclusions:
While many participants in this insured, disaster-experienced sample are medically prepared, restrictive pharmaceutical refill policies may be a barrier. Research is needed to understand the impact of prescription refill and other policies on PMP.
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