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. 2014 Jan;29(1):122-8.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.1.122. Epub 2013 Dec 26.

Scientific framework for research on disaster and mass casualty incident in Korea: building consensus using Delphi method

Chu Hyun Kim  1 , Ju Ok Park  2 , Chang Bae Park  3 , Seong Chun Kim  4 , Soo Jin Kim  5 , Ki Jeong Hong  6
Affiliations

Scientific framework for research on disaster and mass casualty incident in Korea: building consensus using Delphi method

Chu Hyun Kim et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

We aimed to determine the scientific framework for research on disaster and mass casualty incident (MCI) in Korea, especially Korean terminology, feasible definition, and epidemiologic indices. The two staged policy Delphi method was performed by instructors of National Disaster Life Support (NDLS®) with the constructed questionnaire containing items based on the literature review. The first-stage survey was conducted by 11 experts through two rounds of survey for making issue and option. The second-stage survey was conducted by 35 experts for making a generalized group based consensus. Experts were selected among instructors of National Disaster Life Support Course. Through two staged Delphi survey experts made consensus: 1) the Korean terminology "jaenan" with "disaster" and "dajung-sonsang-sago" with "MCI"; 2) the feasible definition of "disaster" as the events that have an effect on one or more municipal local government area (city-county-district) or results in ≥ 10 of death or ≥ 50 injured victims; 3) the feasible definition of MCI as the events that result in ≥ 6 casualties including death; 4) essential 31 epidemiologic indices. Experts could determine the scientific framework in Korea for research on disaster medicine, considering the distinct characteristics of Korea and current research trends.

Keywords: Delphi Technique; Disasters; Epidemiology; Mass Casualty Incidents; Terminology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Summary of two-staged Delphi survey in this study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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