Cognitive Interview Validation of a Novel Household Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Instrument

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundWeather and climate disasters are responsible for over 13,000 USA deaths, worsened morbidity, and $1.7 trillion additional costs over the last 40 years with profound racial disparities. This project empirically generated items for a novel survey instrument of household hazard vulnerability with initial construct validation while addressing racial data bias.MethodsCognitive interviewing methodology was completed with transdisciplinary disaster expert panelists (n=20) from diverse USA regions on 60 unique hazard, disaster, or event items. Interview video recordings were qualitatively analyzed using thematic and pattern coding.ResultsA cognitive process mapped to themes of disaster characteristics, resources, individual life facet, and felt effect was revealed. 379 unique instances of linked terms as synonyms, co-occurring, compounding, or cascading events were identified. Potential for racial data bias was elucidated. Analysis of radiation exposure, trauma, criminal acts of intent items revealed participants may not interpret survey items with these terms as intended.DiscussionThe findings indicate the potential for racial data bias relative to water dam failure, evacuation, external flood, suspicious package/substance, and transportation failure. Hazard terms that were not interpreted as intended require further revision in the validation process of individual or household disaster vulnerability assessments.ConclusionSeveral commonalities in the cognitive process and mapping of disaster terms may be utilized in disaster and climate change research aimed at the individual and household unit of analysis.Highlights⍰Older adults and those with Black/African American racial identities are particularly susceptible to post-disaster health sequelae.⍰Prior to this study, no household-level Hazard Vulnerability Analysis existed. Quantifying risk for at-risk individuals/groups is a necessary initial step for working to eliminate disparities in large-scale disaster health outcomes.⍰Our findings indicate the potential for racial data bias relative to water dam failure, evacuation, external flood, suspicious package/substance, and transportation failure. Overall, several hazard, disaster, and event terms were not interpreted by survey-takers as intended, which may require elimination, replacement, or further revision in the validation process of individual or household assessments.