被災地で支援活動を行う保健師の思いと活動の実際〜岩手・宮城内陸地震の体験から〜

Perceptions of Public Health Nurses Involved in Relief Activities in Disaster Areas and Information on Actual Relief Activities: Experiences Following the Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake

要約

　平成20年６月14日に発生した岩手・宮城内陸地震で被災したＡ市において、被災地区の保健師または他地区から応援に入った保健師５名を対象に、活動の実際と活動時の思いを明らかにすることを目的にグループインタビューを行った。活動は【勤務施設内での情報収集と支援への準備】【住民への家庭訪問活動】【避難所での健康支援活動】など多岐に渡っていた。その中で、被災地区の保健師は【自分たちがやらなければという使命感】【地域を知っているからこそできる自負心】を持つ一方で【外部応援者が行う活動のための準備に対するジレンマ】を抱えていた。他地区から応援に入った保健師は【被災地区の保健師への配慮】をしつつも【被災地区の保健師の気持ちを察するからこそ感じるジレンマ】と思うように応援できず【自責感ややりきれない思い】が残っていた。また、両立場の保健師から【円滑な支援活動に向けた体制作りへの課題】が挙げられた。保健師はいかなる活動も住民の健康を支えていることを自覚し、それぞれの立場で支援活動を行うためのモチベーションを保ちながら通常業務も含めた応援体制をとっていくことがスムーズな活動につながる。

The present study involved the use of group interviews to elucidate information on actual relief activities and the perceptions of local public health nurses from disaster areas and five supporting public health nurses from other urban areas in City A following the Iwate-Miyagi Earthquake of June 14, 2008. Relief activities included information collection and preparation for support in working facilities, resident home visits and evacuee health care. The nurses from disaster areas reported feeling a sense of mission to do something themselves and having the self-confidence to do so because they were familiar with local situations, but also felt conflicted when preparing for activities to be performed by supporting nurses from outside disaster areas. These external contributors reported being unable to perform relief activities adequately due to conflicted feelings arising from their presumptions regarding the attitudes of local nurses, and were affected by self-accusation and discomposure. Both local and supporting nurses pointed out problems with the establishment of systems for the smooth performance of relief activities. The data suggested a need for public health nurses to realize that the relief activities and normal duties of local and supporting staff alike support the wellbeing of residents. This recognition will help to sustain nurses' motivation for their relief activity duties so that such work runs smoothly.