Rapid Behavioral Health Assessment Post-disaster: Developing and Validating a Brief, Structured Module

Goldmann, Emily; Abramson, David M.; Piltch-Loeb, Rachael; Samarabandu, Amila; Goodson, Valerie; Azofeifa, Alejandro; Hagemeyer, Abby; Al-Amin, Nadia; Lyerla, Rob

To develop and validate a brief, structured, behavioral health module for use by local public health practitioners to rapidlyassess behavioral health needs in disaster settings. Data were collected through in-person, telephone, and webbased interviewsof 101 individuals afected by Hurricanes Katrina (n = 44) and Sandy (n = 57) in New Orleans and New Jersey in Apriland May 2018, respectively. Questions included in the core module were selected based on convergent validity, internalconsistency reliability, test–retest reliability across administration modes, principal component analysis (PCA), questioncomprehension, eiciency, accessibility, and use in population-based surveys. Almost all scales showed excellent internal consistencyreliability (Cronbach’s alpha, 0.79–0.92), convergent validity (r > 0.61), and test–retest reliability (inperson vs. telephone,intra-class coeicient, ICC, 0.75–1.00; in-person vs. web-based ICC, 0.73–0.97). PCA of the behavioral health scales yieldedtwo components to include in the module—mental health and substance use. The core module has 26 questions—includingself-reported general health (1 question); symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety (Primary Care PTSD Screen,Patient Health Questionnaire-4; 8 questions); drinking and other substance use (Alcohol Use Disorders IdentiicationTest-Concise, AUDIT-C; Drug Abuse Screening Test, DAST-10; stand-alone question regarding increased substance usesince disaster; 14 questions); prior mental health conditions, treatment, and treatment disruption (3 questions)—and can beadministered in 5–10 minutes through any mode. This lexible module allows practitioners to quickly evaluate behavioral healthneeds, efectively allocate resources, and appropriately target interventions to help promote recovery of disaster-afectedcommunities. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10900-021-00966-5.