Lipscomb J A, Goldman L R, Satin K P, Smith D F, Vance W A, Neutra R R
Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Branch, California Department of Health Services, Emeryville.
Arch Environ Health. 1992 Jul-Aug;47(4):270-3. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1992.9938360.
A follow-up survey of current residents who live near the McColl waste disposal site was conducted to assess community knowledge of an environmental health survey that occurred in the same neighborhood 7 y earlier. Of the 193 eligible adults who participated in an interview (response rate = 73.4%), 35.8% reported having heard of the 1981 health survey; 48% of these (n = 33) reported hearing or seeing the results of the survey. Knowledge of the earlier survey was reported by 34.6%, 40.6%, and 35.7% of respondents in the high-exposure, low-exposure, and comparison areas, respectively. Recall was significantly associated with age (i.e., greater than 55 y), college education, and residence prior to 1981. Our findings suggest that both long-term and recent residents in the study areas know about the McColl waste-disposal site, but the majority of current residents in this sample do not know that the health of the community was assessed in 1981 and that no serious health effects associated with the site were identified. Future efforts to communicate findings of similar health studies should focus on individuals who have less education and on communication with residents who move into an area after a study has been conducted. Creative public participation and media relations should be developed to assure that the results of such studies reach the public.
对居住在麦科尔垃圾处理场附近的现有居民进行了一项跟踪调查，以评估社区对7年前在同一社区进行的环境卫生调查的了解情况。在参与访谈的193名符合条件的成年人中（回复率 = 73.4%），35.8%的人报告听说过1981年的健康调查；其中48%（n = 33）的人报告听说或看到过该调查的结果。高暴露区、低暴露区和对照区的受访者中，分别有34.6%、40.6%和35.7%的人报告了解早期的调查。回忆与年龄（即大于55岁）、大学教育程度以及1981年前的居住情况显著相关。我们的研究结果表明，研究区域内的长期居民和近期居民都知道麦科尔垃圾处理场，但该样本中的大多数现有居民不知道1981年曾对社区健康进行过评估，也不知道未发现与该场地相关的严重健康影响。未来在传达类似健康研究结果时，应将重点放在受教育程度较低的人群以及与研究开展后迁入该地区的居民的沟通上。应开展有创意的公众参与和媒体关系活动，以确保此类研究结果能传达给公众。
