Who's who at a major incident: standardising role titles for emergency planners.
OBJECTIVE
To standardise the names for key roles in a major incident.


METHODS
A Delphi study using experts in major incident planning.


RESULTS
There is clear consensus regarding the need for standard nomenclature. The expert group identified 28 roles, and 184 different names were initially given by group members for the 28 roles. Agreement on a common nomenclature was achieved in only 12/28 roles.


CONCLUSIONS
There is agreement for a standardised nomenclature for major incident roles. However, consensus may be difficult to achieve from within an expert group.
Mudalige
M
M
Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
Carley
S
S
Mackway-Jones
K
K
D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D009626:Terminology as Topic