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Table 2 Ethical, logistical, and temporal challenges of research in a humanitarian setting

From: Measuring the psychosocial, biological, and cognitive signatures of profound stress in humanitarian settings: impacts, challenges, and strategies in the field

Study design: Implementing a fair and transparent randomization process, given short and unpredictable funding timelines; obtaining reliable data to assess sample representativeness; sampling and tracking mobile refugee communities over the period of a year.

Methods: Collecting biological samples and testing cognitive skills, without undue burden, in difficult field conditions; implementing a demanding interdisciplinary survey protocol, with a range of reliable and culturally-relevant psychometric scales, and introducing multiple biomarkers and cognitive testing to assess logistical feasility and cultural acceptability in humanitarian settings.

Dissemination: Reconciling the different demands and time-frames, for dissemination of results in peer-reviewed academic journals vs. influential policy reports.