Journal article
Survey Research in Disaster Public Health
Prehospital and disaster medicine, Vol.15(1), pp.65-71
03/2000
DOI: 10.1017/S1049023X00024936
Abstract
Introduction: While much has been learned during the past three decades of research in the disaster field, there still are some major gaps in knowledge. The need for more and better research on the health aspects of disasters is especially noted. Often, research into the health aspects has been anecdotal in nature and suffers from poor documentation of human losses. However, there are valid research methodologies that can be adapted to better document losses, evaluate interventions, and set priorities for investments to reduce the burden on the health of the population caused by disasters.Methods: A number of data sources are used to demonstrate the potential uses of surveys in disaster health. The majority of the examples reflect data collected by telephone interviews following earthquakes in California.Results: By using comparable instruments, it is possible to track the changes in preparedness levels across time. Similarly, it is possible to compare injury rates or other health impacts across time, place, and disaster type. In addition, risk factors can be identified for health outcomes. For example, in the Northridge earthquake, those over age 60 years were three times more likely to be hospitalized or die as a result of injuries than were those aged 20-59 years. Interventions can be evaluated. Slightlyless than half of the respondents of the El Niño study had heard messages about preparing for the on-coming weather and their preparedness levels were not significantly different from those who had not heard about preparing for the weather.Conclusion: Surveys are useful tools for identifying and evaluating the health impacts of disasters. Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2000.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Survey Research in Disaster Public Health
- Creators
- Kimberley I Shoaf - 1Center for Public Health and Disaster Relief, University of California-Los AngelesCorrinne Peek-Asa - 2Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Prehospital and disaster medicine, Vol.15(1), pp.65-71
- DOI
- 10.1017/S1049023X00024936
- ISSN
- 1049-023X
- eISSN
- 1945-1938
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Number of pages
- 7
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2000
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Nursing; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984215050602771
Metrics
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