Possible Research Studies

Introduction

Research studies conducted during and after mass casualty events can provide important information for allocating health and emergency resources during the current event and for preventing injuries in future events. Studies can include epidemiologic, behavioral, or health services research and can be conducted by state or local health departments, university researchers, or others. This section provides examples of possible studies related to mass casualty events in the behavioral, community, and medical or clinical.

The research questions, design, and sampling strategies for each study will need to be modified to fit the specific circumstances of the mass casualty event. Studies can also be combined to encompass more than one research topic.

These study descriptions are provided to help state and local health departments respond as quickly as possible in mass casualty events.

Research Goals

Goals for research may include:

To assess the magnitude of injury, mental health, and other health conditions attributable to or exacerbated by the event.
To provide data for developing strategies (behavioral, medical, environmental, structural, etc. changes) for preventing or ameliorating injuries and emotional trauma in the current and future events.
To provide data for assessing the level of public health support and health care resources needed in the current and future events.
To determine what health and social services were lacking that are needed for future events.

Definitions

Mass Casualty Event: Any incident that results in multiple injuries or deaths that can affect health care and access to vital services. A mass casualty incident usually involves six or more casualties.

Event Outcomes

Negative health effects (injuries, deaths, disabilities and emotional trauma) resulting directly from the event (e.g., an explosion).
Behavioral or organizational responses to the event (e.g., evacuation behaviors, health services) that may have reduced or caused negative health effects.
Negative health or behavioral effects (e.g., injuries, deaths, disabilities, emotional trauma, unintentional injuries, substance use) related to, but not directly caused by, the event.

Cases

Directly exposed individuals: Individuals who were physically present at the time of the event.

Immediate family members of persons directly exposed to the event.

Indirectly exposed individuals: Individuals who were not physically present at the time of the assault but were indirectly impacted physically, emotionally, or socially by the event.

Emergency workers/first responders: individuals who engaged in evacuation and recovery efforts, patient triage, or onsite medical or first aid treatment.

Common Acronyms

ASD	Acute Stress Disorder
CDC	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ME	Medical Examiner
ED	Emergency Department
PTSD	Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
DMAT	Disaster Medical Assistance Team
EMS	Emergency Medical Service
IRB	Institutional Review Board
NCIPC	National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
CIO	Centers/Institutes/Offices
DMORT	Disaster Mortuary Response Team
DFO	Disaster Field Office
ERT	Emergency Response Team
EOC	Emergency Operations Center
EIS	Epidemic Intelligence Service
ERC	Emergency Response Coordinator
FEMA	Federal Emergency Response Agency