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Container City Experiences of Nurses Providing Voluntary Health Care Services Following the Earthquake: A Qualitative Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2025

Nurbanu Odacı Open the ORCID record for Nurbanu Odacı [Opens in a new window] ,
Sefa Karaman Open the ORCID record for Sefa Karaman [Opens in a new window]  and
Kübra Kerse Open the ORCID record for Kübra Kerse [Opens in a new window]
Nurbanu Odacı
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, https://ror.org/04v8ap992 Lokman Hekim University , Ankara, Türkiye
Sefa Karaman*
Affiliation:
Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, https://ror.org/00jb0e673 Kırklareli University , Kırklareli, Türkiye
Kübra Kerse
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, https://ror.org/020vvc407 Gaziantep University , Gaziantep, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Sefa Karaman; Email: sefakaraman@klu.edu.tr
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Abstract

Objectives

Following natural disasters nurses assume a critical role in the provision of primary health care services in container cities. This study aims to reveal the experiences of nurses who voluntarily provided primary health care services in the container city constructed after the earthquake.

Methods

This study was conducted using a qualitative study design, and reported following the COREQ guidelines. Interviews were conducted with 9 volunteer nurses between January 11-29, 2024. Study data were collected using a “Personal Information Form” and “Semi-Structured Questionnaire” via in-depth interview technique. Collected data were analyzed with a 6-step thematic analysis method.

Results

Five main themes were featured in the study: “Factors affecting participation in volunteer activities,” “Scope of volunteer services,” “Challenges experienced in volunteer activities,” “Achievements of volunteer activities,” and “Suggestions for improving volunteer services.”

Conclusions

Volunteer nurses have experienced various gains, as well as difficulties, as a result of their container city experiences. Suggestions for improving disaster nursing are instructive in terms of strengthening disaster nursing.

Keywords

disaster nursingdisastersearthquakesvolunteeringnurses

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e225
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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