A University-Community Partnership to Reduce Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts In Appalachia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Official Title
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A University-Community Partnership to Reduce Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts In Appalachia

Conditions
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Disinfection By-products

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Citizen Scientist Training Program
* Other: Stakeholder Consultation Core Program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Located in Martin or Letcher County water districts At least 18 years old Able to read/speak in English Exclusion Criteria: Located outside of Martin or Letcher County water districts

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Citizen Science Training<br>Study participants in this condition will participate in training and in-home sampling for disinfection by-products. | Other: Citizen Scientist Training Program<br>* 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.<br>|
| Other: Stakeholder Consultation Core Membership<br>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<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) - Knowledge | 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. | Baseline, 5-years | 
| Change in Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) - Attitudes/Behaviors | 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. | Baseline, 5-years | 
| Change in participant network density | The proportion of direct ties within the network as compared to the number of possible ties as measured by an unbounded social media analysis. | Baseline, 5-years | 
| Change in participant centrality | The influence of each individual within the network (i.e., betweenness and degree centrality) as measured by an unbounded social media analysis. | Baseline, 5-years | 
| Change in participant reciprocity | 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. | Baseline, 5-years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Community-engaged, Appalachia