CASPER Field Materials

At a glance

CDC developed a toolkit and resources to aid in conducting a CASPER. The resources include templates for consent scripts, questionnaires, tracking forms, and referral forms.

A stack of printed resources and materials on a desk.

CASPER toolkit

The CASPER toolkit provides a step-by-step guide on the following:

  • Sample selection
  • Questionnaire development
  • Training
  • Data collection
  • Analysis
  • Report writing

The toolkit also provides examples and templates of forms.

A presentation template for just-in-time training is available (PDF version).

Audience

CDC developed the CASPER toolkit to assist personnel from federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial agencies or partners in conducting a CASPER.

In addition, the following types of personnel will find the toolkit useful:

  • Public health personnel
  • Emergency management officials
  • Academics
  • Others who wish to assess household-level public health needs

Consent script

When interview teams arrive at a household, they should be prepared to give an introduction and obtain consent.

  • Survey participants must give explicit verbal consent to participate in the CASPER interview. Interview teams should leave a copy of the consent form with the household.
  • The interview may be conducted to one person or multiple people within the household as all questions are household level. It is helpful to have a script written for the interviewers to recite. See example CASPER consent script.
  • Interviewers who are concerned about memorizing all the information or about being rejected because of its length should begin with a brief introduction to receive initial agreement, then ask to read the full formal consent.

More information on a CASPER consent script is available in the CASPER Toolkit, Section 2.6.1.

Questionnaire

All CASPER questions are asked at the household level. All questions should be related to an action. Always consider how data will be analyzed to help determine what variables are needed. This will determine what questions should be included. CDC has multiple resources for CASPER questionnaire development:

CDC has multiple questionnaires from previous CASPERs available, including some Epi Info databases. Please contact CASPER@cdc.gov for more information.

A limited number of questionnaires are available online. You may access the questionnaires through the NIH Disaster Research Response Project (DR2) search term "CASPER." Or, you can access them by clicking on the links provided from the Interactive Map of CASPERs.

More information on questionnaire development is available in the CASPER Toolkit, Section 2.6.2. This additional information includes general guidance, question categories, and weighing data collection options.

Tracking form

The tracking form is used to monitor the outcome of every interview attempt. The form is also the basis for calculating the response rates (completion, contact, and cooperation). It is important to track every household selected, even those that are inaccessible. Print the tracking form on bright colored paper to remind interview teams of its importance and encourage completion.

More information on a CASPER tracking form is available in the CASPER Toolkit, Section 3.5.

Confidential referral form

Field interview teams must be prepared to respond if they come across an urgent need. Typically, teams that encounter a household with urgent needs should encourage or assist the household to call emergency services (911). In the event that calling 911 is not appropriate, the teams should complete a confidential referral form. This form is then communicated to the CASPER headquarters for triage and/or follow-up. Teams should not promise any action other than a general timeframe for response (e.g., 72 hours) from the health department.

More information on CASPER confidential referral forms is available in the CASPER Toolkit, Section 3.7.

Epi Info 7 TM

Epi Info 7TM is the recommended statistical package for entering and analyzing CASPER data. Epi Info 7TM is free, user-friendly, and can be downloaded on any computer (including those with administrative restrictions). There are multiple sources and guidance documents for using Epi Info ™ including the following:

For more information on developing a database and data cleaning, please see Appendix L & M.

Requesting CASPER assistance

CDC provides technical assistance remotely and in field (by request and availability). If you would like assistance in conducting a CASPER, please visit the CDC Disaster Epidemiology and Response Training webpage. Alternatively, you can email CASPER@cdc.gov.

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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health