The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66699

Melissa J. Bailey, MPH¹, Elizabeth Sams, MSHSA², Michael J. Beach, PhD³, Kurt Patrizi, MS¹, and Andrea Hallett¹. (1) Westat, 1650 Research Blvd, RW 3673, Rockville, MD 20850, (2) Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, US EPA, MD-58C, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, (3) Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30341-3724

In the summer of 2002, the US EPA and the CDC conducted the National Epidemiologic and Environmental Assessment of Recreational (NEEAR) Water Study Pilot at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The full-scale study will collect the data necessary for developing the next generation of water quality indicators for use in managing recreational beach use by correlating new, more rapid water quality tests results with health outcomes of beachgoers. The 2002 Pilot Study was designed to test methodology and the feasibility of interviewing beachgoers about self-reported exposures, behaviors, and health outcomes with a series of interviewer administered questionnaire instruments. The objective of the questionnaire design was to collect reliable data with high response rates for a combined in-person and CATI survey of beachgoers. The questionnaire design facilitated obtaining demographic information, environmental exposure parameters, and beachgoer health behavior. The in-person interviews, followed by the first and second follow-up telephone interviews had approximate response rates of 70.0%, 87.0%, and 91.0% respectively. A complete case resulted when a Wave 1 Interview and either Wave 2 or 3 Interviews were completed. The overall study response rate was 65.2%. The NEEAR Water Study will have a long-term influence on environmental policy, environmental health and education, and will greatly influence beach management and beachgoer behavior at national marine and Great Lake beaches. A high completion rate is critical to ensure a robust sample of the beachgoer population is collected.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)In-person questionnaire design
• 2)Computer Assisted Telephone interview questionnaire design
• 3)Environmental study approach
• 4)Response rates

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.