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Abstract #159676
Slides (pdf) or HandoutCharles Christen, MEd, LPC1, Conrad Volz, DrPH, MPH2, Paul Caruso3, Myron Arnowitt, BA4, Sean Brady, BS, MA5, Yan Liu, BS Env Eng2, Devra Lee Davis, PhD, MPH6, and Evelyn O. Talbott, PhD7. (1) Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, A712 PUBHL, 130 Desoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, 724-316-5408, clc142@pitt.edu, (2) Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, A712 PUBHL, 130 Desoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, (3) Channel Catfish Angler, 31 Grover Street, Homer City, PA 15748, (4) Western Pennsylvania Director, Clean Water Action, 100 Fifth Ave., #1108, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (5) Assistant Executive Director, Venture Outdoors, 304 Forbes Avenue 2nd Floof, Pittsburgh, AB 15222, (6) Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Fourth Floor, Room 435, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, (7) Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh, A526 Crabtree Hall 130 DeSoto street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
The initial study objective employed community based participatory research techniques to understand the quantities and types of fish eaten by semi-subsistence fishers and recreational anglers in the Three Rivers Area (TRA) of Pittsburgh for risk assessment and hazard communication purposes related to heavy metal ingestion. We used accepted qualitative methods to recruit, collect and analyze data with three distinct focus groups. Recruitment for the first two focus groups utilized partner organizations and observation of fishers at popular fishing sites on the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers. The initial group were anglers who fished the TRA of Pittsburgh. The second group were anglers who primarily fish the lakes and streams of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The third group were those who consume only market fish. Each session was transcribed on site for verbal and non verbal comments and tape recordied. Each tape was transcribed and analyzed according to primary proposal objectives. An iterative process with three different researchers was employed for consistency of interpretation and integrity of response domains and sub-domains. This analysis revealed unexpected information on the locations, contents and scale of combined sewage overflows into the TRA and reports of illnesses after recreational water contact. We conclude that anglers are frequent observers of area waterways, making them excellent river inspectors; they could assist regulators and regional policymakers in efforts to comply with the Clean Water Act. Additionally the focus group method shows merit in reporting, often under-reported, gastointestinal illnesses associated with recreational river water contact.
Learning Objectives:
- 1. List the steps for creation and facilitation of focus groups addressing environmental issues in relationship to a community based participatory research study.
2. Articulate how community based participatory research unites both qualitative and quantitative environmental research techniques to achieve program goals
3. Apply focus group data to the existing environmental research initiative as well as developing new initiatives from new information unrelated to existing study goals-such as using anglers to report on river conditions as part of a regional program to comply with the Clean Water Act and install a regional approach to water management.
- Show how qualitative focus group methods can help facilitate reporting of (generally under-reported) water-borne illnesses.
Keywords: Water, Environmental Health
Related Web page: www.pitt.edu/~cdv5/Research.htm
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.
The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA