The study addresses the survivors of Katrina fairly soon after the disaster, at a time when they likely do not have much stability. Many were without homes, may have lost family or friends, neighborhoods were torn apart, schools were destroyed, and money was very thin. It was not an easy time, so focusing on this group at such a stressful time was the goal of the study.
Methods, tools/data used to produce the arguments made in the article was information or nuclear summits in the past (various countries), first hand news tv experience. Also past knowledge of the author. Review of past nuclear disasters and the affects globally-discussions made internationally.
This study has travelled via the definition of cultural competence on many academic and medical websites regarding psychological ideologies.
The bibliography shows that many of the resources were papers on mental health issues like PTSD, as well as mental health after specific disasters. From this information, the authors were likely able to find comparisions between mental health trends after disasters, and then how those compare to PTSD trends.
The object of the study is the evidence in an increase of various types of epidemics (cholera, malaria, menigitis, tetnus, etc) due to displacement of a populatoin from a natural diasaster. Examples of natural disasters discussed include- hurricanes, cyclones, earthquakes and flooding. Despite popular belief (and scientific evidence) deaths due to natural diasters do not spread diasese; unless cause of widespread infection is due to contaminated water sources, malnutrition, residing in a third world country,access to healthcare and adequate bathroom facilities. These points are supported through statistics from the past twenty or more years.
The actors that are referred to are FDNY EMTs- those who treated the patient and stopped the cops from harming them and emergency service unit officers (ESU)- those who harmed the patient further.