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Abstract #151202

Kristine Qureshi, RN, DNSc¹, Robyn R.M. Gershon, DrPH², Elizabeth Smailes, PhD², and Martin Sherman, PhD³. (1) Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168t Street, New York, NY 11530, 212 305 1186, kqureshi@hawaii.edu, (2) Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, Suite 1003, New York, NY 10032, (3) Loyola University, 4501 North Charles Street, 222-B Beatty Hall, Baltimore, MD 21210

Survivors of disasters are excellent sources of first person information about the event. However, this group is likely to be more vulnerable and at risk for re-victimization as a consequence of participation in post disaster research. Recognizing this we utilized political and policy processes to develop, implement and evaluate a human subjects protection plan for the World Trade Center Evacuation Study (WTCES).

On a political level, to develop this protection plan the Columbia University investigator team met with investigators from other universities, and various New York City and federal agencies. Agreements were made regarding interagency coordination so that multiple studies being conducted were: coordinated; asking worthwhile, but different questions; utilizing appropriate recruitment strategies; and not over sampling the survivors.

On a process level, within the WTCES, the investigators worked closely with the university legal counsel and institutional review board to assure ethical recruitment and study procedures. Strategies included use of a data safety monitoring board; delimitations to exclude the psychologically fragile; mental health clinicians on the study team; rigorous study team training; pre-establishment of mental health support for participants; participant pre/post study post traumatic stress screening (PTSS); researcher debriefing; and a study community advisory board.

To test success for participant protection, pre/post study PTSS screening scores (range 1-5) were compared. The mean pre PTSS score was 2.05 (SD = 0.84); 1.97 (SD = 0.82) directly following participation, and 1.80 (SD = 0.79) two weeks later. A paired samples t-test indicates significantly lower PTSS scores after participation (t(46)=-2.82, p<.01).

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the special vulnerabilities of disaster survivors relative to participating in post disaster research.
• Describe five political and process strategies that can be used to assure conduction of ethical post disaster research.
• Discuss one strategy that can be used to measure success in a human subjects protection plan.

Keywords: Ethics, Research Ethics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.