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Prioritized Health Issues, Solutions, and Vulnerable Groups of Residents Recovering From Nuclear Disaster: A Qualitative Analysis of Interview Data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2025

Yurie Kobashi ,
Nana Susa ,
Elena Ryzhii  and
Naomi Ito
Yurie Kobashi*
Affiliation:
Global Exchange Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine , Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine , Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
Nana Susa
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Disaster Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine , Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
Elena Ryzhii
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine , Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
Naomi Ito
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine , Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
*
Corresponding author: Yurie Kobashi; Email: tenten-y@fmu.ac.jp
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Abstract

Objective

This study examined the health-related issues and proposed solutions among residents who returned or migrated to Namie in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, after the evacuation order following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident was lifted. Moreover, this study assessed vulnerable groups comprising individuals who faced difficulties obtaining health services.

Methods

This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 participants who lived or worked in Namie. A thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview data.

Results

The results revealed four themes regarding prioritized health-related issues: poor lifestyle habits cause disease, mental health, inadequate medical and nursing care systems, and social isolation and issues with social relationships in the community. Likewise, four themes were identified for solutions: measures to improve lifestyle habits, enhancement of medical and nursing services, revitalization of community and social relationships, and provision of personalized care and support. Additionally, seven groups that had difficulty accessing health services were identified.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that comprehensive individual support is required during the long-term recovery phase after nuclear disasters to meet the health needs of vulnerable groups.

Keywords

Fukushima nuclear disasterqualitative researchassessment of health care needsinterview

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e319
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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