Recently, the local governments in Japan implemented the measures for people requiring assistance during a disaster (PRAD). These measures aim to provide public assistance during a disaster for the citizens who registered themselves to the PRAD list in advance, by sharing their personal information among relevant local authorities. However, the needs for such assistance were not clear among chronic disease patients, and there are some concerns about privacy protection in relation to the PRAD list.

The objective of this study is to describe the attitudes toward the registration to the PRAD list among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Study subjects were the members of a nationwide RA patient group in Japan. Of about 20,000 members, 1,477 who lived in the municipalities affected by disasters from 2004 to 2006 were enrolled. Self-administered questionnaires were sent by mail. The subjects were asked their attitudes toward the registration to the PRAD list and categorized into three groups: (1) no need for assistance; (2) need assistance but will not register; and (3) need assistance and wish to register or already registered. Their concerns about privacy protection as well as socio-demographic and health status were also asked.

Of 1,477, 664 (45%) responded validly, and 596 (40%) answered on their attitudes toward the PRAD list. Of these, 365 (61%) reported they need assistance, though 30% of them (108) did not wish to register. A majority of the subjects concerned about privacy protection among those did not wish to register (65%) as well as among those wished to register (55%). Patients who lived alone, and those with low income were more likely to wish to register.

There are substantial needs for public assistance during a disaster among RA patients although the privacy protection issue would be a barrier to be overcome for successful utilization of the list.