Post-Hurricane Distress Scale (PHDS): A Novel Tool for First Responders and Disaster Researchers

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was the construction and validation of a novel research instrument to quantify the degree of post-hurricane trauma and distress in an affected population. The Post-Hurricane Distress Scale (PHDS) has quantitative measures of both acute and prolonged distress, attributable to meteorological and hydrological disasters.MethodsA careful evaluation of existing questionnaires, as well as extensive canvasing of the post-Maria population of Puerto Rico, availed the construction of the PHDS. The PHDS consists of 20 items, organized into 4 subscales. The PHDS was pre-validated (n=79), revised, and then distributed to a broad sampling of the post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rican population (n=597). Validation, including factor analysis, analyses of concurrent validity, discriminant validity, and internal reliability, was performed.ResultsAfter comparing various scales, factor loading profiles, concurrent validities, and models of fit, we show that the PHDS is best scored as a single 0–6 distress scale. When compared with the Traumatic Exposure Severity Scale, the PHDS shows superior concurrent validity, more accurately predicting scores for the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory, Impact of Event Scale – Revised, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale. The PHDS shows good internal reliability and discriminant validity.ConclusionsThe PHDS represents a novel, useful instrument for disaster first-responders and researchers. The prompt identification of high-risk populations is possible using this instrument. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:82-89)

Pasos Hacia un Estudio Piloto: Limitaciones y Oportunidades de una Encuesta de Respuesta de Salud Mental para Puerto Rico Después del Huracán María

“…This was evidenced by the media coverage during the recovery phase, where it was revealed substantial discrepancies in death counts by the government of Puerto Rico (Robles, 2018). Since then, a growing attention towards the development of reliable measures and surveillance mechanisms to capture mental health symptoms and other health outcomes in the island have been documented (Adams et al, 2019;Carl et al, 2019;Wong & Parton, 2020).…”