NCJ Number
195924
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 539-541
Date Published
2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study utilized questionnaire data from 38 forensic odontologists to uncover the emotional and psychological effects of conducting investigations of mass casualty incidents.
Abstract
The authors sought to gauge the consequences of working on the scene of a mass casualty by distributing questionnaires to 38 forensic odontologists who had previous experience investigating mass casualty disasters. The questionnaires were both quantitative and qualitative in design. Two psychometric scales were utilized in this study: the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and the Impact of Events Scale (IOE). The PANAS scale is designed to provide insight into the subject’s perceived emotional and mood states by measuring both positive and negative effect. The IOE scale was chosen for use because it reveals an individual’s subjective level of distress in relation to specific events, such as a mass casualty disaster. The questionnaire was mailed, via both regular mail and e-mail, to 40 forensic odontologists in Canada and the United States. The results indicate that, surprisingly, on the whole the participants reported positive experiences resulting from working on the site of a mass casualty. Reasons that were sited for this positive experience included a sense of achievement and camaraderie. When negative associations were reported, the reasons tended to be difficult working conditions, politics, and distress over the fate of the victims. In conclusion, the authors suggest that future research focus on whether degree of preparedness has an impact on the emotional and psychological states of those forensic examiners who must work at the sites of mass casualties. 1 Figure, 15 references