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A COMPUTERIZED SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSIST TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES IN GATHERING DATA ON TRIBAL FISH CONSUMPTION FOR RISK ASSESSMENT
Citation:
Williams, A. H., R. M. Lorenzana, L. Kissinger, AND P Mendola. A COMPUTERIZED SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSIST TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES IN GATHERING DATA ON TRIBAL FISH CONSUMPTION FOR RISK ASSESSMENT. Presented at 19th Annual EPA Regional Risk Assessors Meeting, Boston, MA, May 3-7, 2004.
Description:
Context
EPA Region 10, which comprises Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, has 269 federally recognized Native American Tribes. It is has been documented that Tribal members consume much larger quantities of fish than the general population. ORD's Human Studies Division is providing scientific assistance to the region in this project. Tribal members may be exposed to much greater amounts of fish and shellfish tissue contaminants than the general population. This greater exposure places Tribal members at higher risk to related health effects associated with chemicals found in fish and shellfish than the general population.
Methods
The primary objective is to develop and test an easy-to-use electronic survey instrument and database to facilitate the collection of Tribal fish and shellfish consumption information. This survey instrument and database will be based on commercially available software with analytical and report-making capabilities to facilitate data compilation. These data would be used by Tribes in the development of their own ambient water quality criteria and risk analysis, related to tribal consumption of contaminants in aquatic biota. The software can be customized to accommodate differences between Tribes, and will enhance standardization of survey methodology across Tribes.
Results
This tool will automate the methodology developed for a Region 10 Tribal fish consumption survey and will be designed for implementation as a computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) system so that survey questions and subject responses are directly recorded on a personal computer. Interested Tribes will be given an opportunity to test the software instrument. The secondary objectives are to provide a user's guide for Tribal trainers that will assist them with modifying the software to fit their Tribe's particular consumption needs, assist with development of survey recruitment plans, explain the development of harvest area maps and portion size models for various types of seafood, and provide recommendations on study design to ensure that results are statistically robust enough for regulatory use. Also provided will be a data dictionary for use by the Tribes in further training and use of the software and resultant database.
Conclusion
The project began at the end of 2003 with development of the survey instrument, database, and ancillary guidance materials. The tools are expected to be available for tribal use in 2004. Screen shots of the questionnaire will be provided.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.