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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jonathan Hofmann, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195-7236, 206-579-2370, hofmann@u.washington.edu and Matthew Keifer, MD, MPH, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Box 357234, Seattle, WA 98195-3770.

Assessment of occupational exposures based on self-reported information can be challenging, particularly with low literacy and non-English speaking populations. In this presentation we will describe a recently developed computer-based survey instrument that is being used for exposure ascertainment in a study among agricultural workers in Washington State who handle organophosphate and N-methyl-carbamate pesticides. This survey instrument features audio-recorded questions and icon-based responses that are displayed on a touch screen Tablet PC. The presentation will include a discussion of several topics related to the development and use of this survey instrument. First, the process of developing the questionnaire and the computer-based platform in collaboration with pesticide safety educators and software programmers will be discussed. Second, previously developed occupational history questionnaires and computer-based questionnaires will be described in relation to this new survey instrument. Third, examples of different types of questions included in the survey instrument will be demonstrated. Fourth, data on the validity of information collected with this instrument will be presented. Finally, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of using computer-based survey instruments for occupational exposure assessment in general and pesticide exposure assessment among Spanish-speaking agricultural pesticide handlers in particular. Ultimately, information collected using this survey instrument will be used to characterize potential mechanisms of pesticide overexposure among handlers, and to determine how such exposures can be prevented.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key challenges that need to be addressed when developing a computer-based survey instrument
• Recognize the importance of designing a survey instrument that uses words and images that are readily understood by the target study population
• Assess the strengths and limitations of using a computer-based survey instrument for occupational exposure assessment

Keywords: Pesticide Exposure, Survey

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No