Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:49:57.540Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Participatory Action Research Methodology in Disaster Research: Results From the World Trade Center Evacuation Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Robyn R.M. Gershon ,
Marcie S. Rubin ,
Kristine A. Qureshi ,
Allison N. Canton  and
Frederick J. Matzner
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective: Participatory action research (PAR) methodology is an effective tool in identifying and implementing risk-reduction interventions. It has been used extensively in occupational health research, but not, to our knowledge, in disaster research. A PAR framework was incorporated into the World Trade Center evacuation study, which was designed to identify the individual, organizational, and structural (environmental) factors that affected evacuation from the World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2 on September 11, 2001. PAR teams—comprising World Trade Center evacuees, study investigators, and expert consultants—worked collaboratively to develop a set of recommendations designed to facilitate evacuation from high-rise office buildings and reduce risk of injury among evacuees.

Methods: Two PAR teams worked first separately and then collectively to identify data-driven strategies for improvement of high-rise building evacuation.

Results: The teams identified interventions targeting individual, organizational, and structural (environmental) barriers to safe and rapid evacuation.

Conclusions: PAR teams were effective in identifying numerous feasible and cost-effective strategies for improvement of high-rise emergency preparedness and evacuation. This approach may have utility in other workplace disaster prevention planning and response programs. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2:142–149)

Keywords

evacuationparticipatory action research teamshigh-rise buildingsworkplace
Type
Original Research and Critical Analysis
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , October 2008 , pp. 142 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Gershon, RRM, Qureshi, KA, Rubin, MS, et alFactors associated with high-rise evacuation: qualitative results from the World Trade Center evacuation study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22:165–173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Fleischman, AR, Wood, EB.Ethical issues in research involving victims of terror. J Urban Health. 2002;79:315–321.Google Scholar
3.Qureshi, KA, Gershon, RRM, Smailes, E, et alRoadmap for the protection of disaster research participants: findings from the World Trade Center evacuation study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22:486–493.Google Scholar
4.Dickens, L, Watkins, K.Action research: rethinking Lewin. Manage Learn. 1999;30:127–140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Lewin, K.Resolving Social Conflicts, Selected Papers on Group Dynamics (1935–1946). New York: Harper & Row; 1948.Google Scholar
6.Israel, BA, Parker, EA, Rowe, Z, et alCommunity-based participatory research: lessons learned from the centers for children’s environmental health and disease prevention research. Environ Health Perspect. 2005;113:1463–1471.Google Scholar
7.Whyte, W, Greenwood, D, Lazes, P.Participatory action research: through practice to science in social research. Am Behav Sci. 1989;32:513–551.Google Scholar
8.Greenwood, D, Whyte, W, Harkavy, I.Participatory action research as a process and as a goal. Hum Relat. 1993;46:175–192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Israel, BA, Schulz, AJ, Parker, EA, et alReview of community-based research: assessing partnership approaches to improve public health. Annu Rev Public Health. 1998;19:173–202.Google Scholar
10.Israel, B, House, J, Schurman, SJ, et alThe relation of personal resources, participation, influence, interpersonal relationships, and coping strategies to occupational stress, job strains, and health: a multivariate analysis. Work Stress. 1989;3:163–194.Google Scholar
11.Israel, BA, Schurman, SJ, House, JS.Action research on occupational stress: involving workers as researchers. Int J Health Serv. 1989;19:135–155.Google Scholar
12.Israel, B, Schurman, S, Hugentobler, MK.Conducting action research: relationships between organization members and researchers. J Appl Behav Sci. 1992;28:74–101.Google Scholar
13.Baker, EA, Israel, BA, Schurman, SJ.A participatory approach to worksite health promotion. J Ambul Care Manage. 1994;17:68–81.Google Scholar
14.Hugentobler, MK, Israel, BA, Schurman, SJ.An action research approach to workplace health: integrating methods. Health Educ Q. 1992;19:55–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Schurman, SJ.Making the “new American workplace” safe and healthy: a joint labor-management-researcher approach. Am J Ind Med. 1996;29:373–377.Google Scholar
16.Broothroyd, R.The impact of research participation on adults with severe mental illness. Ment Health Serv Res. 2000;2:213–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Newman, E, Walker, E, Gefland, A.Assessing the ethical costs and benefits of trauma-focused research. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1999;21:187–196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Richards, HM, Schwards, LJ.Ethics of qualitative research: are there special issues for health services research? Fam Pract. 2002;19:135–139.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Newman, E, Kaloupek, DG.The risks and benefits of participating in trauma-focused research studies. J Trauma Stress. 2004;17:383–394.Google Scholar
20. World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Web site. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wtc/index.html. Accessed Jan 28, 2008.Google Scholar
21.Scholtes, PR, Joiner, BL, Streibel, BJ.The Team Handbook. Madison, WI: Joiner/Oriel; 2003.Google Scholar
22. Office Building Emergency Action Plans. NYC Fire Department Web site. http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/rcny_legal/rcny_3rcny_sect_6_02.shtml. Accessed February 19, 2008.Google Scholar
23. Training Courses for Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Directors. http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/rcny_legal/rcny_3rcny_sect_9_08.shtml.Accessed February 19, 2008.Google Scholar
24. The World Trade Center Survivors’ Network. http://www.survivorsnet.org. Accessed March 17, 2008.Google Scholar