Methods
MauiWES was designed as a community-based longitudinal cohort study to assess the midterm to long-term health outcomes of the August 2023 Maui wildfires. Participants completed a comprehensive questionnaire and a baseline health assessment. Each participant’s visit took approximately one hour. The questionnaire covers wildfire exposure, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and services, physical symptoms and mental health. Following the questionnaire they completed a basic health check including lung function tests which was assessed using a spirometer and oscillometer. All participants were offered in-person consultations to review their physical and mental health results. Each adult participant received a printed summary, access to the MauiWES Health Portal, appropriate referrals, and a $100 incentive for participating.
MauiWES additionally offered optional enrollment to children ages 10 to 17 whose families were already participating in the adult study. Each child took part in brief, validated mental health surveys and underwent on-site health screenings, including blood pressure checks, lung function tests, and basic height and weight measurements.
One year later, a second round of data collection was performed. Following a similar process as the first, participants completed a short questionnaire and a health assessment including lung function testing. The follow-up questionnaire was limited in scope compared to the first, seeking to generate data on longitudinal variables rather than a comprehensive profile. Questions focused on mental health, employment and income characteristics, and housing demographics. Once the second-year data was collected, panel data was generated for relevant longitudinal variables between the two data vintages.