Chronic Illness and Disasters: Developing A Theoretical Framework

This grounded theory study sought to develop a framework to describe how individuals manage health during disasters. The five phases of disaster response served as a conceptual framework. Using purposive sampling I recruited 30 individuals with chronic illness and 10 caregivers. Data included interviews and media data. I used constant comparative analysis to build the theoretical framework. Analysis suggested four ways for participants to shift priorities during disaster-related challenges. Each way related to media impact, evacuation, preparation, attention, and recovery