The Role of Applied Epidemiology Methods in the Disaster Management Cycle

Abstract

Disaster epidemiology (i.e., applied epidemiology in disaster settings) presents a source of reliable and actionable information for decision-makers and stakeholders in the disaster management cycle. However, epidemiological methods have yet to be routinely integrated into disaster response and fully communicated to response leaders. We present a framework consisting of rapid needs assessments, health surveillance, tracking and registries, and epidemiological investigations, including risk factor and health outcome studies and evaluation of interventions, which can be practiced throughout the cycle. Applying each method can result in actionable information for planners and decision-makers responsible for preparedness, response, and recovery. Disaster epidemiology, once integrated into the disaster management cycle, can provide the evidence base to inform and enhance response capability within the public health infrastructure.

The Role of e-Health in Disasters: A Strategy for Education, Training and Integration in Disaster Medicine

“…Time will be devoted to the role of epidemiology in disasters and the contribution that big data techniques and data visualisation software advances will make to epidemiological approaches to disaster planning and response. 32 Independently, disaster situations and eHealth applications raise their own questions of ethical practice, privacy, confidentiality, safety, and legality. 33 The course will cover relevant aspects referring to any differences of approach and responsibility that distinguish disaster situations from normal circumstances.…”

Pilot Study on the Experiences of Hurricane Shelter Evacuees

“…Most disaster research is therefore conducted months or years after a disaster (Vernberg, La Greca, Silverman, & Prinstein, 1996). Rapid needs assessments, however, are conducted during or immediately following an event to establish immediate impacts, inform response, and plan for future preparedness (Malilay et al, 2014;Stone, Lekht, Burris, & Williams, 2007). The integration of such real-time assessments into disaster research may be useful, especially when study participants' recall of threat intensity can vary over time (Heir, Piatigorsky, & Weisaeth, 2009).…”

Evaluating Disaster Damages and Operational Status of Health-Care Facilities During the Emergency Response Phase of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico

“…Recent responses have successfully demonstrated the utility of standardized public health assessments as part of disaster epidemiologic tools for rapidly collecting data in the aftermath of disasters. [14][15][16][17] In the United States, well-established methods, guidelines, mandates, and tools on how to carry out HCF-specific post-disaster assessments have yet to be developed and standardized. In the past, damage assessments of HCFs have been limited to predominantly hospitals with reports based largely on anecdotal information, usually from nonstructured interviews with sparse descriptions of impacts or from mailed surveys instead of in-person assessments.…”