Citation

Nukui H, Murakami M, Midorikawa S, Suenaga M, Rokkaku Y, Yabe H, Ohtsuru A. Asia Pac. J. Public Health 2017; 29(Suppl 2): 161S-170S.

Affiliation

Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1010539516682589

PMID

28330404

Abstract

The mental health of hospital nurses is a key health issue in public health promotion during the recovery phase following the Fukushima disaster. In this study, conducted 4 years after the disaster, we analyzed the overall mental health, knowledge, risk perception of radiation, and work and daily life burdens of nurses working at medical institutions in the Fukushima Prefecture (collection rate = 89.6%; response number = 730). Overall mental health status was estimated using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire, and 333 respondents (45.6%) scored above the 12-item General Health Questionnaire threshold point (≥4), indicating probable emotional distress compared with the general population under normal circumstances. Multivariate logistic analysis suggested that the ability to cope with daily life and work-related stressors were more important than risk perception and acquisition of knowledge regarding radiation and its control methods for supporting the mental health of nurses following the Fukushima disaster.

Language: en

Keywords

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident; General Health Questionnaire; Great East Japan earthquake; daily life burdens; psychological distress; radiation risk perception