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Mental Health Triage Tools for Medically Cleared Disaster Survivors: An Evaluation by MRC Volunteers and Public Health Workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2013

Donald E. Brannen ,
Robert Barcus ,
Mark A. McDonnell ,
Andrea Price ,
Corey Alsept  and
Kimberly Caudill
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Abstract

Objective

Psychological assessment after disasters determines which survivors are acutely distressed or medically compromised and what kind of assistance is needed (whether practical or psychological). A mental health triage tool can help direct more people to the appropriate type of help. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Fast Mental Health Triage Tool (FMHT) and the Alsept-Price Mental Health Scale (APMHS) among public health workers and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers in conducting mental health triage. Both tools screen for ability to follow simple commands, chronic medical conditions, mental health conditions and services, occult injuries, and traumatic events in the past year. Both were designed for use in disasters where mental health resources are scarce and survivors are already medically triaged.

Methods

Volunteers (n = 204) and workers (n = 66) were randomized into 3 groups, with 79 participating. Fifty-nine raters completed 20 each of 1180 mental health clinical vignettes of disaster survivors.

Results

The survey presenting the vignettes was highly reliable at 0.771; the study model was parallel between baseline and treatment; and the interclass correlation among the raters was high at 0.852. Each rater triaged the same cases, but the rater was randomly assigned to use FMHT, APMHS, or no tool or scale. Between-subject effect for the tools used was significant (P = .039). The FMHT was significantly better than no tool in correct mental health triage, 67.3% to 51.5% (P = .028).

Conclusion

The incorporation of a temporal component should be evaluated for potential inclusion in existing mental health triage systems. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:20-28)

Keywords

triagemass casualty incidentmental health services
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 20 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013

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