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The Public Health Dimension of Disasters—Health Outcome Assessment of Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Bellis van den Berg ,
Linda Grievink ,
Kersten Gutschmidt ,
Thierry Lang ,
Stephen Palmer ,
Marc Ruijten ,
Rene Stumpel  and
Joris Yzermans
Bellis van den Berg
Affiliation:
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Environmental Health Research, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
Linda Grievink*
Affiliation:
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Environmental Health Research, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
Kersten Gutschmidt
Affiliation:
World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
Thierry Lang
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), U558 Toulouse, France
Stephen Palmer
Affiliation:
Health Protection Agency (HPA), Local and Regional Services, Cardiff University, UK
Marc Ruijten
Affiliation:
Crisis Tox Consult, Gouda, the Netherlands
Rene Stumpel
Affiliation:
Medical Emergency Preparedness and Planning (GHOR) Gooi & Vechtstreek, Bussum, the Netherlands
Joris Yzermans
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), Utrecht, the Netherlands
*
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), A. van Leeuwenhoeklaan 1, 3721 MA Bilthoven, the Netherlands E-mail: Linda.Grievink@RIVM.nl
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Abstract

A broad range of health problems are related to disasters. Insight into these health problems is needed for targeted disaster management. Disaster health outcome assessment can provide insight into the health effects of disasters.

During the 15th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine in Amsterdam (2007), experts in the field of disaster epidemiology discussed important aspects of disaster health outcome assessment, such as: (1) what is meant by disaster health outcome assessment?; (2) why should one conduct a disaster health outcome assessment, and what are the objectives?, and (3) who benefits from the information obtained by a disaster health outcome assessment?

A disaster health outcome assessment can be defined as a systematic assessment of the current and potential health problems in a population affected by a disaster. Different methods can be used to examine these health problems such as: (1) rapid assessment of health needs; (2) (longitudinal) epidemiological studies using questionnaires; (3) continuous surveillance of health problems using existing registration systems; (4) assessment of the use and distribution of health services; and (5) research into the etiology of the health effects of disasters.

The public health impact of a disaster may not be immediately evident. Disaster health outcome assessment provides insight into the health related consequences of disasters. The information that is obtained by performing a disaster health outcome assessment can be used to initiate and adapt the provision of health care. Besides information for policy-makers, disaster health outcome assessments can contribute to the knowledge and evidence base of disaster health outcomes (scientific objective). Finally, disaster health outcome assessment might serve as a signal of recognition of the problems of the survivors.

Several stakeholders may benefit from the information obtained from a disaster health outcome assessment. Disaster decision-makers and the public health community benefit from performing a disaster health outcome assessment, since it provides information that is useful for the different aspects of disaster management. Also, by providing information about the nature, prevalence, and course of health problems, (mental) health care workers can anticipate the health needs and requirements in the affected population.

It is important to realize that the disaster is not over when the acute care has been provided. Instead, disasters will cause many other health problems and concerns such as infectious diseases and mental health problems. Disaster health outcome assessments provide insight into the public health impact of disasters.

Keywords

disasterepidemiology interventionpublic health
Type
Tap Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue S2: Reports from the 15th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 13–16 May 2007 , August 2008 , pp. s55 - s59
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

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