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Community-based focus groups guide epistemological change to educational materials at Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
OBJECTIVE: CCCEH’s Community Outreach &Translation Core (COTC) developed an educational brochure showing ways to reduce BPA exposure, using focus groups to ensure materials were culturally relevant for low-income communities of color in Northern Manhattan and South Bronx.
METHODS: Three focus groups with women of childbearing age were conducted in English (n= 16) and Spanish (n= 8) using a discussion guide developed with the CCCEH Community Advisory and Stakeholders Board (CASB). Participants were recruited through community-based organizations that serve on CCCEH's CASB. We discussed participants’ knowledge, beliefs, and health behaviors related to environmental health and BPA. Responses were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to determine key themes. Themes and high frequency responses shaped a brochure with advice for reducing BPA exposure that can be easily understood by local residents.
RESULTS: Participants were unacquainted with BPA and its harms, but knew dangers of microwaving food in plastic and canned foods lining. Many knew about recycling labels on plastic containers, but couldn’t remember which numbers to avoid. They preferred cooking with fresh foods, but said low quality produce, cost, and inconvenience were barriers. We finalized the BPA brochure using input of participants, CCCEH investigators, staff, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the CASB. Over 4,000 copies have been distributed. Participants’ feedback also helped redirect COTC’s educational campaign from dense materials about single exposures to focus on simple health habits that decrease multiple environmental harms.
CONCLUSION: Focus groups are critical for valuable community input to improve materials developed for their use, and to shape future directions of COTC activities, including a new holistic educational campaign.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe how community-based focus groups can inform and enhance the development of environmental health educational materials.
Identify how to translate children's environmental health research into educational messaging that finds common ground between both community and academic priorities.
Assess the best practices and lesson learned from developing the BPA tip sheet through collaboration between an academic research institution and community partners.
Keyword(s): Community-Based Research (CBPR), Environmental Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As the former Program Coordinator of the Community Outreach & Translation Core at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, I was responsible for the development, planning, implementation, and analysis of the focus groups discussed as well as help guide the holistic educational campaign mentioned. In addition, I have been involved with community-based participatory research and children's environmental health since 2010.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.