How to Choose? Using the Delphi Method to Develop Consensus Triggers and Indicators for Disaster Response.
To identify key decisions along the continuum of care (conventional, contingency, and crisis) and the critical triggers and data elements used to inform those decisions concerning public health and health care response during an emergency.



A classic Delphi method, a consensus-building survey technique, was used with clinicians around Washington State to identify regional triggers and indicators. Additionally, using a modified Delphi method, we combined a workshop and single-round survey with panelists from public health (state and local) and health care coalitions to identify consensus state-level triggers and indicators.



In the clinical survey, 122 of 223 proposed triggers or indicators (43.7%) reached consensus and were deemed important in regional decision-making during a disaster. In the state-level survey, 110 of 140 proposed triggers or indicators (78.6%) reached consensus and were deemed important in state-level decision-making during a disaster.



The identification of consensus triggers and indicators for health care emergency response is crucial in supporting a comprehensive health care situational awareness process. This can inform the creation of standardized questions to ask health care, public health, and other partners to support decision-making during a response. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:467-472).
1Northwest Healthcare Response Network,Tukwila,Washington.
Rebecca
R
Lis
1Northwest Healthcare Response Network,Tukwila,Washington.
Vicki
V
Sakata
1Northwest Healthcare Response Network,Tukwila,Washington.
Onora
O
Lien
D002959:Civil Defense / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014861:Washington
crisis standards of care; health care emergency preparedness; health care public health decision-making; triggers/indicators