A University-Community Partnership to Reduce Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts In Appalachia
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Appalachian Kentuckians in Martin and Letcher Counties are grappling with a health-threatening drinking water crisis arising from exposures to disinfection by-products (DBPs). DBPs include trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), chlorate, and other compounds that have been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, including increased risk of bladder cancer and cardiovascular birth defects. This study implements a multi-stakeholder, multi-method approach to improve understanding of, characterize spatial and temporal variations in, and reduce exposure to DBPs in these Appalachian Kentucky counties.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Other: Citizen Science Training Study participants in this condition will participate in training and in-home sampling for disinfection by-products. |
Other: Citizen Scientist Training Program
Citizen Scientist Training Program Participants is a three year training and in-home sampling program for disinfection byproducts. Participants will be trained and assessed based on their experience in the training program.
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| Other: Stakeholder Consultation Core Membership Study participants in this condition will participate in quarterly meetings and deliberative activities of the project's Stakeholder Consultation Core. |
Other: Stakeholder Consultation Core Program
Stakeholder Consultation Core Program Participants is a five year assessments where participants will participate in quarterly meetings and deliberative activities related to disinfection byproducts. Participants will be assessed based on their experience in the program.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) - Knowledge [Baseline, 5-years]
Study participants will complete pre-/post-surveys of disinfection byproducts-related knowledge. Participants will answer 21 questions with multiple choice or fill in the blank response options that will be assessed for correctness/completeness.
- Change in Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) - Attitudes/Behaviors [Baseline, 5-years]
Study participants will complete pre-/post-surveys of disinfection byproducts-related attitudes. Participants will answer 9 questions related attitudes/behaviors with a five-point Likert scale, ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree, where Strongly Agree indicates a greater likelihood for the behavior/more positive attitude.
- Change in participant network density [Baseline, 5-years]
The proportion of direct ties within the network as compared to the number of possible ties as measured by an unbounded social media analysis.
- Change in participant centrality [Baseline, 5-years]
The influence of each individual within the network (i.e., betweenness and degree centrality) as measured by an unbounded social media analysis.
- Change in participant reciprocity [Baseline, 5-years]
The number of reciprocal ties, which is the extent to which individuals within the network recognize each other as valued resources/collaborators as measured by an unbounded social media analysis.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Located in Martin or Letcher County water districts
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At least 18 years old
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Able to read/speak in English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Located outside of Martin or Letcher County water districts
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky | Lexington | Kentucky | United States | 40536 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Anna Hoover
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Anna Hoover, PhD, University of Kentucky
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 62921
- 1R01ES032396-01