Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121957

Robert Brackbill, PhD, MPH¹, Laura DiGrande, MPH¹, Megan Perrin, MPH¹, Suzanne Triplett², and Mark Farfel, ScD¹. (1) Division of Epidemiology, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, 212-788-5331, rbrackbi@health.nyc.gov, (2) RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

The WTCHR cohort was designed to follow persons whose health was potentially affected by environmental agents and trauma resulting from the 9/11 attack. 71,437 enrollees completed interviews from four target groups 2-3 years after 9/11: persons south of Chambers Street on 9/11, nearby residents, disaster workers, and school children. Respondents were asked about their 9/11 exposures, physical health, and current symptoms associated with PTSD and serious psychological distress (SPD). A protocol for responding to elevated levels of emotional distress during the interview was implemented. Trained interviewers first identified distress symptoms classifying them as minimal, moderate, or serious. Next, interviewers employed at least one action (e.g., offered a break, stopped an interview, provided referral/made call to the Mental Health Association of New York's LIFENET counseling service). Respondents to PTSD or SPD questions who exceeded a threshold were automatically flagged for referral to LIFENET. Out of 68,556 completed adult interviews, 8,776 (13%) had at least one action taken with 7,902 (12%) referred or connected directly to LIFENET. All 2,964 participants who exhibited emotional distress had an action taken including a LIFENET referral or call. Tower survivors were more likely to have an action taken (787/4,179, 19%) compared to residents (1,565/12,423, 13%) or disaster workers (3,335/30,551, 11%). The protocol for identifying and responding to emotional distress assured a high level of safety for respondents during the interview and can serve as a model for handling sensitive data and fostering collaboration in the aftermath of future disasters.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Introduce the World Trade Center Health Registry as a unique resource to examine potential short and long-term health effects of 9/11 disaster on a large and diverse population.
• 2. Provide overview of procedures for responding to emotional distress during data collection related to sensitive issues.
• 3. Understand the importance of collaboration among local agencies to ensure the identification and referral of registrants and other individuals at risk for emotional distress after disasters.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation