The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64811

Carol S. North, MD, MPE, School of Medicine, Washington University, Department of Psychiatry, 660 S Euclid, CB 8134, Renard Building, Room 2210, St. Louis, MO 63110, (314)747-2013, northc@psychiatry.wustl.edu, David E. Pollio, PhD, School of Social Work, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, Deborah Megivern, PhD, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, and Betty Pfefferbaum, MD, JD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, PO Box 26901, WP-3470, Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3048.

Purpose: Little systematic information is available on the mental health effects of bioterrorism. More knowledge is critical to prepare our country for the inevitabilities of future such events. Focus groups were conducted with congressional staffers on Capitol Hill to develop a conceptual understanding of their experience of the anthrax attacks to which they were exposed through the mail in October, 2001.

Methods: Five groups were conducted in January and February, 2002 with a total of 28 participants who volunteered from Capitol Hill offices from both the Senate and House. Two facilitators conducted these groups, stimulating discussion with four general questions only as needed. The discussions were tape recorded and transcribed, and data analyzed with NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Independent raters established reliability in coding the discussions into categories, which were further collapsed and developed into themes.

Results: Nine thematic categories emerged. The categories with the highest number of responses were Authorities' Response and Safety. The least frequently discussed category was Symptoms. Perceptions of exposure were conceptualized on individual responses (including categories of Safety Issues, Emotional Responses, and Symptoms) and system responses (including categories of Disruptions, Authorities' Responses, and Medical Procedures).

Discussion: The focus groups provided narratives with an intellectual delivery style that reflected the context of the September 11th terrorist attacks, affirmed the importance of responses of systems and authorities as well as personal physical proximity to the exposures, and identified coping styles such as humor and group identity.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• 1)Describe emerging thematic categories from focus groups of Capitol Hill staffers who experienced anthrax bioterrorism attacks through the mail;
• 2)Discuss the importance of responses of systems and authorities identified by these focus group participants;
• 3)Recognize delivery style, coping techniques, and context of the September 11th attacks discussed by the participants.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: This study was supported by a grant from NIMH (R01 MH66628) to Dr. North.