2. Improving risk factor surveillance in racial and ethnic communities facing health disparities

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

James L. Mason, PhD and Kathryn Broderick, MPA. Office of Multicultural Health, Oregon Dept. of Human Services, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 930, Portland, OR 97232, 971-673-1285, james.mason@state.or.us

The session will examine current challenges to the collection of reliable and representative data in racially and ethnically diverse populations using existing methods, (e.g., random dial, convenience sampling, etc.). The presenter will identify some root causes, historic barriers, and circumstances that jeopardize response rates, create sampling biases, and encourage response sets.

The presentation will describe emerging technology that can expedite data collection, reduce cost, and enhance accuracy when used in a culturally competent manner. Substantial improvements made in a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) in Oregon with the participation of cultural key informants and the use of innovative new technology in community settings will be outlined.

The session will explore strategies for: · improving the reliability of survey data · reaching a more representative sample · increasing responsiveness of potential respondents by reducing gender, trust, candor and cultural appropriateness issues · increasing ability to contact hardly-reached populations · increasing ability to reach speakers of languages other than English or Spanish · decreasing costs in comparison with traditional oversampling methods

The presentation will conclude with an overview of the planning issues to be considered when designing survey system changes.

Learning Objectives:

I.Participants will acquire

A.information regarding current barriers to collection of representative and reliable racial and ethnic health data,
B.skills regarding practical strategies for improving racial and ethnic health data collection and analysis,
II.At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
- A.Describe the ways in which cultural competency is a factor in survey response rates, completion rates and respondent forthrightness.
- B.List six strategies for improving response rates, completion rates and data accuracy in surveys of racially and ethnically diverse populations.
Keywords: Cultural Competency, Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Any relevant financial relationships? No

Methodological Techniques to Reduce Health Disparities
The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA