Qualitative methods in the development of a national child and family disaster mental health research training...

Conducting research in the aftermath of disasters is complicated by chaotic conditions, competing priorities, and resource constraints, and raises a variety of ethical concerns. Ultimately, research should extend our understanding of the impact of disasters on children, families, and communities and translate findings into improved services and public policies that afford enhanced protection and promote recovery. Unfortunately, the existing research base on children and disasters has not been adequate to inform the development of effective psychosocial services and interventions, and decision-making about the allocation of behavioral health resources. To improve research capacity, the Child & Family Disaster Research Training & Education program provides child disaster mental health research training for mental health and public health professionals. The program has engaged a national faculty to develop a comprehensive modular disaster research curriculum covering basic concepts, current knowledge, clinical issues and interventions, research and ethical issues, public health structures, and response options. Focus groups were held prior to training to elicit the participants' knowledge of and attitudes about child and family disaster mental health research, to understand training needs, to identify research topics of interest and perceived barriers to generating and conducting research. The results were then used to refine the curriculum.