To protect the public's health, public health response to large disease outbreaks requires ma... more To protect the public's health, public health response to large disease outbreaks requires many interviews conducted quickly for case investigation. However, the size or number of outbreaks may easily exceed ability of health department staff to investigate. To assist our local health department (The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) the Student Surge Capacity for Outbreak Investigation (Team Epi) program was developed to recruit graduate public health and professions students to augment staff for outbreak investigation. Such students have the basic knowledge of diseases and the ability to communicate about them. By providing interview assistance, Team Epi participants free up health department staff to focus on more specialized needs (e.g., data analysis, interpretation of findings, intervention planning), as well as maintaining essential services. The overall goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of implementing student based volunteers to enhance outbr...
Purpose: This analysis assesses the potential beneficial effects of a positive attitude on mental... more Purpose: This analysis assesses the potential beneficial effects of a positive attitude on mental and physical health and recovery following Hurricane Katrina. Description: Several studies have suggested that positive affect is linked to mental and physical health benefits. Using verbal testimonies and written accounts of life events, researchers have examined the association of positive affect with outcomes including longer life expectancy and depression. Less understood is the role positive affect plays in mental health and recovery after a disaster. In 2007, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness conducted a pilot study investigating the effectiveness of oral histories in facilitating displaced and disengaged individuals in re-establishing positive social roles through the story-telling process. Oral history interviews were video recorded for 47 individuals displaced or heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina; videos were scored on a scale of 1-10 on hopefulness, calmness, h...
Research has shown that stress and mental health are often associated with alcohol use and smokin... more Research has shown that stress and mental health are often associated with alcohol use and smoking. However, long-term studies of this association in a displaced population are limited. This study investigates the changes in mental health (measured with the mental component summary (MCS) score of the SF-12) associated with increased smoking and alcohol use based on four waves of data collected from a longitudinal cohort study of 1,079 respondents displaced or greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Results showed nearly one-third of respondents reported using either tobacco or alcohol more than before the hurricane. Among current smokers, over half reported smoking more now than they did before Katrina; one quarter of respondents consuming any alcohol in the previous six months indicated they were drinking more. Results from the CAGE Assessment (Ewing, 1984) found one in ten current users may have an alcohol problem. Using a mixed-effects growth curve model controlling for housing st...
Unlike multiple choice (MC) items which can be objectively scored as right or wrong, constructed ... more Unlike multiple choice (MC) items which can be objectively scored as right or wrong, constructed response (CR) items are evaluated on a range of ordinal values (scores) by multiple raters. Individual rater's leniency and strictness influence CR scoring. Therefore, it is of interest to understand how these assessments behavewhether they vary by individual raters or how well these ratings conform to the test-taker's true ability. This proposal is based on the data from Life Story Project examining the effect of the Testimony Therapy and oral history in the form of story-telling, to improve recovery of the Hurricane Katrina and Rita-afflicted Gulf Coast residents. 100 subjects from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans, and trailer communities in Louisiana are randomly assigned to a case or control group. Subjects randomized to case group begin their Life Stories session, describing their personal experience of Katrina/Rita. Two raters (from a pool of ten) are assigned to eva...
Shortly after the initial outbreak of the H1N1 pandemic in the spring of 2009, researchers from N... more Shortly after the initial outbreak of the H1N1 pandemic in the spring of 2009, researchers from NCDP travelled to four US cities to explore how communities of undocumented Mexican immigrants were responding to the evolving health threat. A documentary team from the Spanish public television network HITN chronicled the researchers' efforts, following the team from New York City to Homestead, Florida; McAllen, Texas; and Los Angeles, California. This compelling English-language film reveals the challenges that providers, advocates, and researchers face in engaging communities of undocumented immigrants and in gaining their trust. It also dramatically illustrates the many complex forces in these individuals' lives, particularly when they find themselves at the intersection of economic, political, and public health interests. It may be no small irony that these immigrants' pursuit of the American dream may be as elusive to them as they are to governmental officials. The chal...
Seniors and elderly populations exposed to disasters may represent pathways towards resilience or... more Seniors and elderly populations exposed to disasters may represent pathways towards resilience or vulnerability that are different than younger populations. We examined a senior population, age 65 years and older, displaced or greatly impacted by Hurricane Katrina as part of the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health study, a longitudinal cohort of 1,079 randomly selected households. On average, the seniors had adapted fairly well to the stressors of the displacement and reported a greater degree of recovery and mental well-being than younger populations. When interviewed last, seniors had mental component summary (MCS) scores 5 points higher and a 45% greater odds of reporting recovery than their younger counterparts. This may be explained, in part, by stable sources of health insurance (Medicare) and household income streams (Social Security) that were relatively unaffected by the hurricane. Significantly lower need for financial help with housing, utilities, and food supports this th...
Several studies in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill chronicled the... more Several studies in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill chronicled the resident population's psychological and emotional response to the catastrophic accident, and the perceived health effects on the residents. Unknown were the long-term impacts on the Gulf ecosystem and on its social system. The first phase of the Coastal Population Impact Project surveyed 1,203 residents of the coastal population in the summer of 2010. The project's second phase, reported here, focused on a population case-finding: identifying community clusters of children living in a four-state area in the Gulf who had been adversely affected by the oil spill, whether through direct physical exposure or secondarily through economic and social effects. A mixed method strategy was employed to identify these community clusters and to explore the potential mechanisms of the oil spill's health effects on children. The project first developed a proxy measure of impact by assembli...
Before being capped, the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well spilled an estimated 4.9 million bar... more Before being capped, the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well spilled an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil in to the Gulf of Mexico, making it the largest accidental oil disaster in history. Experts have noted that the complexity of the spill, the multi-dimensional social and economic aspects of the catastrophe, and the ongoing uncertainty all contribute to the potential for both physical and mental health effects. This study focused on the short- and potential long-term impacts of the disaster on local residents, particularly children. Using a random digit dial telephone survey, in July 2010 we interviewed 1,203 residents of Louisiana and Mississippi living within a 10 mile radius of the coastline. Respondents were asked about their exposure status, physical and mental health, and economic impact since the oil spill. Households with children were specifically oversampled and were asked about their child's emotional, behavioral, physical and mental health. Findings suggested t...
Without substantial changes in emissions rates, climate change from the buildup of greenhouse gas... more Without substantial changes in emissions rates, climate change from the buildup of greenhouse gases is likely to lead to extensive transformations of U.S. ecosystems and coastlines later this century. The U.S. Department of Defense's 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review recently determined that climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate global mass migration. It is therefore essential that the public health workforce become further aware of the potential health impacts of climate change along with the specific mitigation strategies which can be carried out. One way of generating more awareness is through the incorporation of distance learning modalities. This study involves the evaluation of an online course distributed to more than 2,000 U.S. public health workers. The online course, developed at Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, includes a pre-test, a one hour interacti...
To protect the public's health, public health response to large disease outbreaks requires ma... more To protect the public's health, public health response to large disease outbreaks requires many interviews conducted quickly for case investigation. However, the size or number of outbreaks may easily exceed ability of health department staff to investigate. To assist our local health department (The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) the Student Surge Capacity for Outbreak Investigation (Team Epi) program was developed to recruit graduate public health and professions students to augment staff for outbreak investigation. Such students have the basic knowledge of diseases and the ability to communicate about them. By providing interview assistance, Team Epi participants free up health department staff to focus on more specialized needs (e.g., data analysis, interpretation of findings, intervention planning), as well as maintaining essential services. The overall goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of implementing student based volunteers to enhance outbr...
Purpose: This analysis assesses the potential beneficial effects of a positive attitude on mental... more Purpose: This analysis assesses the potential beneficial effects of a positive attitude on mental and physical health and recovery following Hurricane Katrina. Description: Several studies have suggested that positive affect is linked to mental and physical health benefits. Using verbal testimonies and written accounts of life events, researchers have examined the association of positive affect with outcomes including longer life expectancy and depression. Less understood is the role positive affect plays in mental health and recovery after a disaster. In 2007, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness conducted a pilot study investigating the effectiveness of oral histories in facilitating displaced and disengaged individuals in re-establishing positive social roles through the story-telling process. Oral history interviews were video recorded for 47 individuals displaced or heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina; videos were scored on a scale of 1-10 on hopefulness, calmness, h...
Research has shown that stress and mental health are often associated with alcohol use and smokin... more Research has shown that stress and mental health are often associated with alcohol use and smoking. However, long-term studies of this association in a displaced population are limited. This study investigates the changes in mental health (measured with the mental component summary (MCS) score of the SF-12) associated with increased smoking and alcohol use based on four waves of data collected from a longitudinal cohort study of 1,079 respondents displaced or greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Results showed nearly one-third of respondents reported using either tobacco or alcohol more than before the hurricane. Among current smokers, over half reported smoking more now than they did before Katrina; one quarter of respondents consuming any alcohol in the previous six months indicated they were drinking more. Results from the CAGE Assessment (Ewing, 1984) found one in ten current users may have an alcohol problem. Using a mixed-effects growth curve model controlling for housing st...
Unlike multiple choice (MC) items which can be objectively scored as right or wrong, constructed ... more Unlike multiple choice (MC) items which can be objectively scored as right or wrong, constructed response (CR) items are evaluated on a range of ordinal values (scores) by multiple raters. Individual rater's leniency and strictness influence CR scoring. Therefore, it is of interest to understand how these assessments behavewhether they vary by individual raters or how well these ratings conform to the test-taker's true ability. This proposal is based on the data from Life Story Project examining the effect of the Testimony Therapy and oral history in the form of story-telling, to improve recovery of the Hurricane Katrina and Rita-afflicted Gulf Coast residents. 100 subjects from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans, and trailer communities in Louisiana are randomly assigned to a case or control group. Subjects randomized to case group begin their Life Stories session, describing their personal experience of Katrina/Rita. Two raters (from a pool of ten) are assigned to eva...
Shortly after the initial outbreak of the H1N1 pandemic in the spring of 2009, researchers from N... more Shortly after the initial outbreak of the H1N1 pandemic in the spring of 2009, researchers from NCDP travelled to four US cities to explore how communities of undocumented Mexican immigrants were responding to the evolving health threat. A documentary team from the Spanish public television network HITN chronicled the researchers' efforts, following the team from New York City to Homestead, Florida; McAllen, Texas; and Los Angeles, California. This compelling English-language film reveals the challenges that providers, advocates, and researchers face in engaging communities of undocumented immigrants and in gaining their trust. It also dramatically illustrates the many complex forces in these individuals' lives, particularly when they find themselves at the intersection of economic, political, and public health interests. It may be no small irony that these immigrants' pursuit of the American dream may be as elusive to them as they are to governmental officials. The chal...
Seniors and elderly populations exposed to disasters may represent pathways towards resilience or... more Seniors and elderly populations exposed to disasters may represent pathways towards resilience or vulnerability that are different than younger populations. We examined a senior population, age 65 years and older, displaced or greatly impacted by Hurricane Katrina as part of the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health study, a longitudinal cohort of 1,079 randomly selected households. On average, the seniors had adapted fairly well to the stressors of the displacement and reported a greater degree of recovery and mental well-being than younger populations. When interviewed last, seniors had mental component summary (MCS) scores 5 points higher and a 45% greater odds of reporting recovery than their younger counterparts. This may be explained, in part, by stable sources of health insurance (Medicare) and household income streams (Social Security) that were relatively unaffected by the hurricane. Significantly lower need for financial help with housing, utilities, and food supports this th...
Several studies in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill chronicled the... more Several studies in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill chronicled the resident population's psychological and emotional response to the catastrophic accident, and the perceived health effects on the residents. Unknown were the long-term impacts on the Gulf ecosystem and on its social system. The first phase of the Coastal Population Impact Project surveyed 1,203 residents of the coastal population in the summer of 2010. The project's second phase, reported here, focused on a population case-finding: identifying community clusters of children living in a four-state area in the Gulf who had been adversely affected by the oil spill, whether through direct physical exposure or secondarily through economic and social effects. A mixed method strategy was employed to identify these community clusters and to explore the potential mechanisms of the oil spill's health effects on children. The project first developed a proxy measure of impact by assembli...
Before being capped, the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well spilled an estimated 4.9 million bar... more Before being capped, the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well spilled an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil in to the Gulf of Mexico, making it the largest accidental oil disaster in history. Experts have noted that the complexity of the spill, the multi-dimensional social and economic aspects of the catastrophe, and the ongoing uncertainty all contribute to the potential for both physical and mental health effects. This study focused on the short- and potential long-term impacts of the disaster on local residents, particularly children. Using a random digit dial telephone survey, in July 2010 we interviewed 1,203 residents of Louisiana and Mississippi living within a 10 mile radius of the coastline. Respondents were asked about their exposure status, physical and mental health, and economic impact since the oil spill. Households with children were specifically oversampled and were asked about their child's emotional, behavioral, physical and mental health. Findings suggested t...
Without substantial changes in emissions rates, climate change from the buildup of greenhouse gas... more Without substantial changes in emissions rates, climate change from the buildup of greenhouse gases is likely to lead to extensive transformations of U.S. ecosystems and coastlines later this century. The U.S. Department of Defense's 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review recently determined that climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate global mass migration. It is therefore essential that the public health workforce become further aware of the potential health impacts of climate change along with the specific mitigation strategies which can be carried out. One way of generating more awareness is through the incorporation of distance learning modalities. This study involves the evaluation of an online course distributed to more than 2,000 U.S. public health workers. The online course, developed at Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, includes a pre-test, a one hour interacti...
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