title: A decision process for determining whether to conduct responder health research following large disasters.
abstract: Disasters often set the stage for scientific inquiry within the field of occupational safety and health. This is especially true when the long-term consequences of exposures associated with a particular disaster are unclear. However, a responder research study can be costly and difficult to design, and researchers must consider whether the proposed study will produce useful, reliable results and is a prudent public health investment. The decision process can be segregated into various components, including scientific rationale that should be formally recognized as critical to efficiently and effectively determine whether a research study is warranted. The scientific rationale includes certain controlling or "gatekeeper" factors that should be present to proceed with research.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Dori B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Reissman
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halpin
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ehrenberg
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004190:Disasters; D060731:Emergency Responders; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D012107:Research Design