Disaster-related information support systems for families of older adults with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
- 1Department of Immunology, Mianyang Central Hospital, Affiliated with the School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China
- 2School of Public Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
Abstract
Based on the theory of structural vulnerability, this study systematically examines the characteristics and underlying mechanisms shaping information needs among families of older adults with special healthcare needs in disaster contexts, providing a theoretical foundation for developing a family-system collaborative disaster information support system. In this scoping review, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from inception to December 31, 2025. A total of 22 studies were included. The findings suggest that the information needs in this population are highly heterogeneous, particularly among families managing cognitive impairments and chronic diseases. These families not only bear the responsibility of information transmission but also act as intermediaries responsible for translating, interpreting, and filtering information. However, existing disaster information support systems insufficiently meet their needs, particularly regarding information accessibility and comprehensibility, which presents significant gaps. Additionally, family caregivers face a disparity between responsibility and capacity, lacking effective support tools, potentially contributing to decision fatigue and information overload. Overall, the study suggests that the information needs of these families may arise from structural mechanisms embedded within disaster response systems. Future disaster information support strategies should move beyond the simple “family-centered” approach to a family-system synergy model. Such an approach should incorporate decision-support toolkits and parallel communication channels while also providing structured decision support and risk-sharing mechanisms. This shift would transform family caregivers from unsupported gap-fillers into active yet supported decision participants, thereby enhancing both disaster response capacity and equity for this vulnerable population.
Related
- Cytogenomics of Tetragonisca angustula Reveal Unique and Shared satDNA Families Within Tetragonisca and Closely Related Genera (Apidae: Meliponini)
- Navigating fragmented and contingent support: A qualitative study of British Armed Forces families raising neurodivergent children
- Toward personalized prostate cancer screening. Information on risk factors and test interpretation for men and healthcare professionals
- High rate of hypomorphic variants as the cause of inherited ataxia and related diseases: study of a cohort of 366 families
- A Personalized Recovery Intervention to Support Sleep Health in Emergency Healthcare Professionals
BibTeX
@article{zhong2026disasterrelated,
title = {{Disaster-related information support systems for families of older adults with special healthcare needs: A scoping review}},
author = {Qianmei Zhong and Chunyue Xiao and Dan Liu and Lawrence T. Lam and Jia Pu},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358320},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358320},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Disaster-related information support systems for families of older adults with special healthcare needs: A scoping review
AU - Qianmei Zhong
AU - Chunyue Xiao
AU - Dan Liu
AU - Lawrence T. Lam
AU - Jia Pu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358320
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358320
AB - Based on the theory of structural vulnerability, this study systematically examines the characteristics and underlying mechanisms shaping information needs among families of older adults with special healthcare needs in disaster contexts, providing a theoretical foundation for developing a family-system collaborative disaster information support system. In this scoping review, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from inception to December 31, 2025. A total of 22 studies were included. The findings suggest that the information needs in this population are highly heterogeneous, particularly among families managing cognitive impairments and chronic diseases. These families not only bear the responsibility of information transmission but also act as intermediaries responsible for translating, interpreting, and filtering information. However, existing disaster information support systems insufficiently meet their needs, particularly regarding information accessibility and comprehensibility, which presents significant gaps. Additionally, family caregivers face a disparity between responsibility and capacity, lacking effective support tools, potentially contributing to decision fatigue and information overload. Overall, the study suggests that the information needs of these families may arise from structural mechanisms embedded within disaster response systems. Future disaster information support strategies should move beyond the simple “family-centered” approach to a family-system synergy model. Such an approach should incorporate decision-support toolkits and parallel communication channels while also providing structured decision support and risk-sharing mechanisms. This shift would transform family caregivers from unsupported gap-fillers into active yet supported decision participants, thereby enhancing both disaster response capacity and equity for this vulnerable population.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -