Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T06:39:46.445Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) to Rapidly Assess Public Health Issues — United States, 2003-2012

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2015

Tesfaye M. Bayleyegn ,
Amy H. Schnall ,
Shimere G. Ballou ,
David F. Zane ,
Sherry L. Burrer ,
Rebecca S. Noe  and
Amy F. Wolkin
Tesfaye M. Bayleyegn*
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia USA
Amy H. Schnall
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia USA
Shimere G. Ballou
Affiliation:
Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
David F. Zane
Affiliation:
Community Preparedness Section, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas USA
Sherry L. Burrer
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia USA
Rebecca S. Noe
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia USA
Amy F. Wolkin
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, Georgia USA
*
Correspondence: Tesfaye M. Bayleyegn, MD National Center for Environmental Health Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Chamblee, Georgia USA E-mail: bvy7@cdc.gov
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) is an epidemiologic technique designed to provide quick, inexpensive, accurate, and reliable household-based public health information about a community’s emergency response needs. The Health Studies Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides in-field assistance and technical support to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) health departments in conducting CASPERs during a disaster response and in non-emergency settings. Data from CASPERs conducted from 2003 through 2012 were reviewed to describe uses of CASPER, ascertain strengths of the CASPER methodology, and highlight significant findings.

Methods

Through an assessment of the CDC’s CASPER metadatabase, all CASPERs that involved CDC support performed in US states and territories from 2003 through 2012 were reviewed and compared descriptively for differences in geographic distribution, sampling methodology, mapping tool, assessment settings, and result and action taken by decision makers.

Results

For the study period, 53 CASPERs were conducted in 13 states and one US territory. Among the 53 CASPERS, 38 (71.6%) used the traditional 2-stage cluster sampling methodology, 10 (18.8%) used a 3-stage cluster sampling, and two (3.7%) used a simple random sampling methodology. Among the CASPERs, 37 (69.9%) were conducted in response to specific natural or human-induced disasters, including 14 (37.8%) for hurricanes. The remaining 16 (30.1%) CASPERS were conducted in non-disaster settings to assess household preparedness levels or potential effects of a proposed plan or program. The most common recommendations resulting from a disaster-related CASPER were to educate the community on available resources (27; 72.9%) and provide services (18; 48.6%) such as debris removals and refills of medications. In preparedness CASPERs, the most common recommendations were to educate the community in disaster preparedness (5; 31.2%) and to revise or improve preparedness plans (5; 31.2%). Twenty-five (47.1%) CASPERs documented on the report or publications the public health action has taken based on the result or recommendations. Findings from 27 (50.9%) of the CASPERs conducted with CDC assistance were published in peer-reviewed journals or elsewhere.

Conclusion

The number of CASPERs conducted with CDC assistance has increased and diversified over the past decade. The CASPERs’ results and recommendations supported the public health decisions that benefitted the community. Overall, the findings suggest that the CASPER is a useful tool for collecting household-level disaster preparedness and response data and generating information to support public health action.

BayleyegnTM , SchnallAH , BallouSG , ZaneDF , BurrerSL , NoeRS , WolkinAF . Use of Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) to Rapidly Assess Public Health Issues — United States, 2003-2012. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(4):1-8.

Keywords

assessmentCASPERdisasterpreparednessresponse
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , August 2015 , pp. 374 - 381
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Disaster declarations by year. Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site. http://www.fema.gov/disasters/grid/year. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar
2. Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. Natural disaster in 2012. CRED Crunch 31. http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CredCrunch31.pdf. Published March 2013. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar
3. Malilay, J. Public health assessments in disaster settings: recommendations for a multidisciplinary approach. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2000;15(4):167-172.Google Scholar
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) Toolkit. 2nd ed. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/surveillance/pdf/CASPER_Toolkit_Version_2_0_508_Compliant.pdf. Published 2012. Accessed September 26, 2014.Google Scholar
5. Malilay, J, Flanders, WD, Brogan, D. A modified cluster-sampling method for post-disaster rapid assessment of needs. Bull World Health Organ. 1996;74(4):399-405.Google Scholar
6. Lemeshow, S, Tserkovnyi, AG, Tulloch, JL, Dowd, JE, Lwanga, SK, Keja, J. A computer simulation of the EPI survey strategy. Int J Epidemiol. 1985;14(3):437-481.Google Scholar
7. Henderson, RH, Sundaresan, T. Cluster sampling to assess immunization coverage. Bull World Health Organ. 1982;60(2):253-260.Google Scholar
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy places: health impact assessment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/hia.htm. Accessed June 21, 2014.Google Scholar
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rapid community health and needs assessments after Hurricanes Isabel and Charley—North Carolina, 2003-2004. MMWR Morb Mort Wkly Rep. 2004;53(36):840-842.Google Scholar
10. Choudhary, E, Chen, TH, Martin, C, et al. Public health needs assessments of Tutuila Island, American Samoa, after the 2009 tsunami. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2012;6(3):209-216.Google Scholar
11. Buttke, D, Vagi, S, Bayleyegn, T, et al. Mental health needs assessment after the Gulf Coast oil spill—Alabama and Mississippi 2010 Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(5):401-408.Google Scholar
12. Nyaku, MK, Wolkin, AF, McFadden, J, et al. Assessing radiation emergency preparedness planning by using Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) methodology. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(3):1-9.Google Scholar
13. Zane, DF, Bayleyegn, TM, Haywood, TL, et al. Community assessment for public health emergency response following Hurricane Ike—Texas, 25-30 September 2008. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2010;25(6):503-510.Google Scholar
14. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Storm event data base. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/choosedates.jsp?statefips=-999%2CALL. Published 2014. Accessed January 30, 2015.Google Scholar
15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning. http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/capabilities/DSLR_capabilities_July.pdf. Published 2011. Accessed September 25, 2014.Google Scholar
16. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Rapid assessment of the needs and health status of older adults after Hurricane Charley—Charlotte, Desoto, and Hardee counties, Florida, August 27-31, 2004. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004;53(36):837-840.Google Scholar
17. Environmental Science Research Institute. Geographic Information System (GIS) product and training. http://www.esri.com/products. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar
18. Buttke, D, Vagi, S, Schnall, A, et al. Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) one year following the Gulf Coast oil spill: Alabama and Mississippi, 2011. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(6):496-502.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Comprehensive assessment of health needs 2 months after Hurricane Andrew—Dade County, Florida, 1992. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1993;42(22):434-437.Google Scholar
20. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rapid needs assessment of two rural communities after Hurricane Wilma—Hendry County, Florida, November 1-2, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006;55(15):429-431.Google Scholar
21. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injuries and illnesses related to Hurricane Andrew—Louisiana, 1992. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1992;42(13):242-251.Google Scholar
22. Texas Department of State Health Services. CASPER Pocket Field Guide. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=8589959990. Published 2011. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar
23. Texas Department of State Health Services. Recommended public health actions resulting from past CASPERS. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=8589955268. Published 2009. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar
24. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Public health preparedness and response: disaster epidemiology. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Web site. http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/phpr/disaster.html. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar
25. Dicker, RC. “Analyzing and interpreting data.” In: Gregg M, (ed). Field Epidemiology, 3rd ed. New York, New York USA: Oxford University Press; 2008: 199-235.Google Scholar
26. Bayleyegn, T, Wolkin, A, Oberst, K, et al. Rapid assessment of the needs and health status in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, Florida, after Hurricane Ivan, September 2004. Disaster Manage Response. 2006;4(1):12-18.Google Scholar
27. World Health Organization. Effective Media Communication During Public Health Emergencies: A World Health Organization Handbook. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO%20MEDIA%20HANDBOOK.pdf. Published 2005. Accessed October 24, 2013.Google Scholar