The Assessment of Post-Earthquake Quality of Life of Earthquake Survivors


DİNÇER M., AKYOL M., Karatas Y. E., KOCAKAYA M.

DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, vol.18, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1017/dmp.2024.309
  • Journal Name: DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, PASCAL, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) of earthquake survivors who experienced 2 major earthquakes in T & uuml;rkiye on February 6, 2023, with different measurement tools.Methods The study was conducted in 2 centers with a total of 467 participants. For QoL measurement, face-to-face Euroqol EQ-5D-5L, Euroqol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS), and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) measurement tools were used.Results On the EQ-5D-5L scale, most of the participants stated that they struggled the most with the anxiety/Depression dimension. In NHP, the highest mean score is in the Emotional Reaction section. Females and the 55+ age group were found to have worse QoL. A linear and moderate correlation was found between the EQ-5D-5L index value and the EQ-VAS score; an inverse, weak, or moderate correlation was found between the EQ-VAS score and the sections of the NHP scores; an inverse and strong correlation was found between the Nottingham Health Profile Distress (NHP-D) score and the EQ-5D-5L index value.Conclusions The findings obtained with the measurement tools used in this study reveal various dimensions affecting the QoL of different cohorts. In addition, the study provides important evidence for policies to be developed to increase post-earthquake QoL.