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Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Katrina Inspired Disaster Screenings (KIDS): Psychometric Testing of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Hurricane Assessment and Referral Tool

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Abstract

Background

Post disaster psychosocial surveillance procedures are important for guiding effective and efficient recovery. The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Katrina Inspired Disaster Screenings (KIDS) is a model designed with the goal of assisting recovering communities in understanding the needs of and targeting services toward children and adolescents.

Objective

As a critical, yet understudied, component to the KIDS model, the objective of this study is to test the psychometric properties of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Hurricane Assessment and Referral Tool for Children and Adolescents.

Methods

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to investigate the factor structure of the NCTSN Hurricane Assessment and Referral Tool. The convenience sample included 7530, 9–18 years old students who completed the school initiated screener in Southeastern Louisiana schools from December 2005 to December 2006. On a small treatment seeking population (N = 62), associations among the referral tool and the PTSD Reaction Index were also explored.

Results

EFA of the referral tool revealed a two factor solution, anxious and depressive reactions, that accounted for 45.8 % of model variance. Internal consistency was high and symptom scores were moderately associated with the PTSD Reaction Index. The cutoff score was also confirmed with scores ≥4 suggesting the need for referral.

Conclusion

This study allows for the recommendation of the NCTSN Hurricane Assessment and Referral Tool as a reliable and valid part of the KIDS model; together they provide an initial step toward addressing the needs of child and adolescent disaster survivors.

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Ethical standard

American Psychological Association and National Association of Social Work ethical principals were maintained throughout the study and the authors have no conflicts of interest to report. Parents and guardians provide annual informed consent for assessments. Participation was voluntary and both the parents and children were allowed the option to decline survey completion. This study was submitted and received approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC).

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  1. LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Tonya Cross Hansel, Joy D. Osofsky & Howard J. Osofsky

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  1. Tonya Cross Hansel
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  2. Joy D. Osofsky
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  3. Howard J. Osofsky
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Correspondence to Tonya Cross Hansel.

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Hansel, T.C., Osofsky, J.D. & Osofsky, H.J. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Katrina Inspired Disaster Screenings (KIDS): Psychometric Testing of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Hurricane Assessment and Referral Tool. Child Youth Care Forum 44, 567–582 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-015-9313-2

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