Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (746 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Sudden slips on a geological fault, and the resulting ground shaking and radiated seismic energy caused by the slips, or by volcanic or magmatic activity, or other sudden stress changes in the earth. Faults are fractures along which the blocks of earth crust on either side have moved relative to one another parallel to the fracture.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Earthquake.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Geological Phenomena; Natural Disasters
Related concepts
- Earth
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 6,043 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Earthquakes” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,134 of them (35.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 3,612 records.
Reviews account for 291 records (4.8%) and meta-analyses for 25. Randomized controlled trials number 52 (0.9%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 307 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,612 |
| 2020 onward | 2,134 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 291 | 4.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 25 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 52 | 0.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Earthquakes"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses' experiences of providing medical services during the Kermanshah earthquake in Iran: a qualitative study | 2024 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 18 | cc by PMID 38185641 · DOI · PMC10773068 |
| What Are the Best Practices for Nursing Care during an Earthquake? A Scoping Review | 2024 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 13 | cc by PMID 38791751 · DOI · PMC11120831 |
| The 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes: analysis of pediatric victims with crush syndrome and acute kidney Injury | 2024 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 10 | cc by PMID 38358551 · DOI · PMC11147823 |
| Does Acceptance Aid Mental Health? A National Survey Following the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 41457261 · DOI · PMC12765484 |
Nurses' experiences of providing medical services during the Kermanshah earthquake in Iran: a qualitative study [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundNurses have always been at the forefront of providing services for victims of disasters.
- Closing excerpt
- They should be evaluated and updated if they are used in a real earthquake or practice and maneuver.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (243 words)
BackgroundNurses have always been at the forefront of providing services for victims of disasters. Using nurses' experiences in disaster planning can play an important role in improving their readiness to provide healthcare during disasters. The objective of this study is not only to understand the challenges but also to explore and document the broader spectrum of experiences encountered by nurses in these critical situations. By focusing on their experiences, we aim to contribute valuable insights to enhance disaster preparedness and healthcare delivery strategies.MethodsThis qualitative study employed the content analysis method to describe the experiences of 16 earthquake relief nurses in Kermanshah, Iran. Sampling was done purposefully and continued until data saturation was achieved. Initially, two unstructured interviews were conducted to shape the interview's main line and refine guide questions. Subsequently, the study involved semi-structured interviews and observation notes for a nuanced understanding of the participants' experiences.ResultsIn the analysis of the interviews, 920 codes were obtained and the nurses' experiences were categorized into three main categories: personal experiences, operational experiences, and social and cultural experiences. These three categories covered 12 subcategories.ConclusionResults of describing nurses' experiences in the Kermanshah earthquake showed that nurses need to plan and implement necessary measures to ensure pre-disaster preparedness to respond effectively to disasters such as earthquakes. Besides, it is necessary to prepare, train and practice these interventions regularly, periodically, and purposefully. They should be evaluated and updated if they are used in a real earthquake or practice and maneuver.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38185641 · DOI · PMC10773068
What Are the Best Practices for Nursing Care during an Earthquake? A Scoping Review [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Among natural disasters, earthquakes have a considerable impact and are among the ten deadliest, with an extreme impact on the healthcare sector.
- Closing excerpt
- By analyzing these nursing practices during care and relief operations for earthquake victims, this study identified the various actions carried out, the nursing skills to be developed, and the reinforcement of these advanced practices through the systematization of nurses' skills, in order to promote victims' rehabilitation, minimize their suffering, and improve their quality of life during and after an earthquake.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (199 words)
Among natural disasters, earthquakes have a considerable impact and are among the ten deadliest, with an extreme impact on the healthcare sector. This study aimed to analyze the best practices in nursing care for earthquake victims. An in-depth analysis was carried out by using a scoping review, a method used in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR recommendations, to identify best nursing practice in these circumstances based on searches of eight databases: MEDLINE via PubMed; Cochrane Library; Embase; VHL; PDQ-Evidence; Scopus; ProQuest; and Google Scholar. Twenty-one studies were selected. The nursing practices identified were grouped into two distinct dimensions, each subdivided into four subcategories: (i) care practices: (a) immediate care, (b) intermediate care, (c) psychosocial care, and (d) ethical care; (ii) care management and coordination practices, which cover (a) care coordination, (b) victim care network organization, (c) teamwork, and (d) training. By analyzing these nursing practices during care and relief operations for earthquake victims, this study identified the various actions carried out, the nursing skills to be developed, and the reinforcement of these advanced practices through the systematization of nurses' skills, in order to promote victims' rehabilitation, minimize their suffering, and improve their quality of life during and after an earthquake.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38791751 · DOI · PMC11120831
The 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes: analysis of pediatric victims with crush syndrome and acute kidney Injury [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundOn February 6th, 2023, two consecutive earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye with magnitudes of 7.
- Closing excerpt
- Hypokalemia may be seen as a complication of vigorous fluid therapy during hospitalization.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
BackgroundOn February 6th, 2023, two consecutive earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6, respectively. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and laboratory findings, as well as management of pediatric victims with Crush Syndrome (CS) and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).MethodsThe study included pediatric earthquake victims who were presented to Mersin University Hospital. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were collected retrospectively.ResultsAmong 649 patients, Crush injury (CI), CS and AKI was observed in 157, 59, and 17 patients, respectively. White blood cell count (12,870 [IQR: 9910-18700] vs. 10,545 [IQR: 8355-14057] /µL, P 2/day. Hypokalemia was observed in 51.9% of the CS patients on the third day. All patients with AKI showed improvement and no deaths were reported.ConclusionsHyponatremia and increase in inflammation markers associated with CS may be observed. An increase in myoglobin levels was identified as a risk factor for CS. Hypokalemia may be seen as a complication of vigorous fluid therapy during hospitalization.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38358551 · DOI · PMC11147823
Does Acceptance Aid Mental Health? A National Survey Following the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Natural disasters threaten population mental health.
- Closing excerpt
- In the post-disaster phase, the adaptiveness of acceptance could interplay with other factors, such as how much an individual finds significance in life following the disaster.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
Natural disasters threaten population mental health. Acceptance, denoting recognition and assent of the finality of a situation, is a coping strategy that has been recommended following major disasters. This study investigates this topic for which existing findings are mixed. A survey was administered among a population-representative Turkish national sample (N = 7585) recruited through the internet panel of TGM Research (September-October 2023). We examined how acceptance and its interaction with cognitive integration (i.e., finding sense in a stressful event and finding significance in life after the event) were associated with common psychiatric symptoms. Respondents with high acceptance showed higher symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD. These associations were stronger when respondents also reported low perceived significance in life after the event. In the post-disaster phase, the adaptiveness of acceptance could interplay with other factors, such as how much an individual finds significance in life following the disaster.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41457261 · DOI · PMC12765484
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article A Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adults and Children after Earthquakes [5]
- Research article The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors after earthquakes:a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Medical complications associated with earthquakes [7]
- Research article Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti: A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Connecting slow earthquakes to huge earthquakes [9]
- Research article The initial health-system response to the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February, 2011 [10]
References
- Akbari K, Yari A, Ostadtaghizadeh A. Nurses' experiences of providing medical services during the Kermanshah earthquake in Iran: a qualitative study. . 2024. PMID 38185641 · DOI · PMC10773068
- Pierre SD, Ramos MC, Shimizu HE. What Are the Best Practices for Nursing Care during an Earthquake? A Scoping Review. . 2024. PMID 38791751 · DOI · PMC11120831
- Döven SS, Tezol Ö, Yeşil E, Durak F, Mısırlıoğlu M, Alakaya M, et al.. The 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes: analysis of pediatric victims with crush syndrome and acute kidney Injury. . 2024. PMID 38358551 · DOI · PMC11147823
- Tao TJ, Li CJ, Liu H, Saral AT, Goodwin R, Hou WK. Does Acceptance Aid Mental Health? A National Survey Following the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake. . 2026. PMID 41457261 · DOI · PMC12765484
- Tang B, Deng Q, Glik D, Dong J, Zhang L. A Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adults and Children after Earthquakes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017. PMID 29292778 · DOI · PMC5750955
- Dai W, Chen L, Lai Z, Li Y, Wang J, Liu A. The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors after earthquakes:a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2016. PMID 27267874 · DOI · PMC4895994
- Bartels SA, VanRooyen MJ. Medical complications associated with earthquakes. Lancet. 2012. PMID 22056246 · DOI
- Cénat JM, McIntee SE, Blais-Rochette C. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2020. PMID 32421623 · DOI
- Obara K, Kato A. Connecting slow earthquakes to huge earthquakes. Science. 2016. PMID 27418504 · DOI
- Ardagh MW, Richardson SK, Robinson V, Than M, Gee P, Henderson S, et al.. The initial health-system response to the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February, 2011. Lancet. 2012. PMID 22510397 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
See how EvidenceLib is built. Spotted an error? Email support@evidencehelix.com.
Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.