Grantee Research Project Results
Participatory Design of Effective Risk Communication about Wildfire Smoke for Hard-to-Reach Populations.
EPA Grant Number: R840239Title: Participatory Design of Effective Risk Communication about Wildfire Smoke for Hard-to-Reach Populations.
Investigators: Neuhauser, Linda , Ivey, Susan L , Su, Jason
Institution: University of California - Berkeley
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: September 1, 2021 through February 29, 2024 (Extended to February 28, 2025)
Project Amount: $988,740
RFA: Interventions and Communication Strategies to Reduce Health Risks of Wildland Fire Smoke Exposures (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Wildfires
Objective:
(1) Create new, more precise modelling of CA wildfire smoke risk data including for at-risk populations; (2) Conduct needs assessment of wildfire smoke risk communication including: literature review; gaps in knowledge of health impacts and best practice guidance; and environmental scan and health literacy assessment of existing risk communications; (3) Use participatory design to develop/revise risk communications and dissemination strategies for hard-to-reach populations including: low-income parents of children 0–5 and children with asthma, Native Americans, Latinx farmworkers, Deaf community members, Hmong rural populations, and their providers. Conduct a continuing education course on wildfire smoke health effects for healthcare providers; and (4) Test effectiveness of new/revised risk communications and dissemination strategies with usability testing, focus groups, and interviews. Study communication effectiveness with 200 parents of children with uncontrolled asthma; with medical providers getting continuing education, and through a qualitative study with Native Americans.
Approach:
Hypotheses: H1: Parents of children with asthma who receive plain language, user-designed risk communication resources from a community field worker will improve their knowledge, attitudes, perceived competence and planned or reported actions to reduce their child’s and their own exposure to wildfire smoke. H2: Medical providers attending a webinar on health effects of wildfire smoke exposure will demonstrate increased knowledge and intent to educate their patients about wildfire smoke health effects and mitigation strategies.
Experimental approaches used: (a) Create new technique to analyze wildfire-smoke risk exposure and high-risk groups in CA using NOAA, Hazard Mapping System and other tools; (b) Conduct scoping literature review of wildfire smoke risk communication; (c) Select priority hard-to-reach and at-risk populations, and representative stakeholder organizations to establish a CA Stakeholder Advisory Committee and conduct key informant interviews; (d) Conduct an environmental scan of wildfire risk communication resources and assess their relevance to the needs of hard-to-reach populations; (e) Use participatory design to develop/revise wildfire/ash risk communications in 5 languages, and dissemination strategies for hard-to-reach populations; and (f) Test the effectiveness of wildfire risk communications resources via usability testing, focus groups, and surveys with hard-to-reach populations and their service providers, a quantitative study with 200 parents of children with asthma, and a qualitative, participatory study with Native Americans
Expected Results:
(a) Improved CA wildfire-smoke risk modeling and management for hard-to-reach populations; (b) Evidence-based understanding of gaps in wildfire smoke risks and risk communication; (c) Tested high-quality risk communication resources for hard-to-reach populations; (d) Tested, sustainable strategies for large-scale and locally-targeted dissemination strategies; (e) Improved understanding of barriers and supports for wildfire smoke health risks and risk communication needs, including among healthcare providers and health plans; (f) Resources and strategies disseminated widely in CA including through Right Care Initiative, and nationally to EPA, CDC, AAP, ACC, PEHSU, and other groups; and (g) Manuscripts submitted; reports filed; presentations provided to stakeholders. These improvements are expected to improve CA’s risk assessment and risk management capabilities related to wildfire smoke exposure. Dissemination of these results could improve risk assessment and management capability in other US states.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 4 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 2 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Community-based, smoke exposure, air quality, risk management, emergency preparedness, environmental justiceProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.