A University-Community Partnership to Reduce Exposure to Disinfection Byproducts In Appalachia

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Disinfection By-products
• Interventions: Other: Citizen Scientist Training Program; Other: Stakeholder Consultation Core Program

• Registration Number: NCT05172752
• Lead Sponsor: Anna Hoover

Brief Summary

Appalachian Kentuckians in Martin and Letcher Counties are grappling with a health-threatening drinking water crisis arising from exposures to disinfection by-products (DBPs). DBPs include trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), chlorate, and other compounds that have been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, including increased risk of bladder cancer and cardiovascular birth defects. This study implements a multi-stakeholder, multi-method approach to improve understanding of, characterize spatial and temporal variations in, and reduce exposure to DBPs in these Appalachian Kentucky counties.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-10-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-12-10
• Study First Posted: 2021-12-29
• Study Start: 2022-02-25
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-04
• Primary Completion: 2026-07
• Study Completion: 2026-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• Located in Martin or Letcher County water districts
• At least 18 years old
• Able to read/speak in English

Exclusion Criteria

• Located outside of Martin or Letcher County water districts

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Citizen Science Training	Citizen Scientist Training Program	Study participants in this condition will participate in training and in-home sampling for disinfection by-products.
Stakeholder Consultation Core Membership	Stakeholder Consultation Core Program	Study participants in this condition will participate in quarterly meetings and deliberative activities of the project's Stakeholder Consultation Core.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in participant network density	Baseline, 5-years	The proportion of direct ties within the network as compared to the number of possible ties as measured by an unbounded social media analysis.
Change in Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) - Knowledge	Baseline, 5-years	Study participants will complete pre-/post-surveys of disinfection byproducts-related knowledge. Participants will answer 21 questions with multiple choice or fill in the blank response options that will be assessed for correctness/completeness.
Change in participant centrality	Baseline, 5-years	The influence of each individual within the network (i.e., betweenness and degree centrality) as measured by an unbounded social media analysis.
Change in Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) - Attitudes/Behaviors	Baseline, 5-years	Study participants will complete pre-/post-surveys of disinfection byproducts-related attitudes. Participants will answer 9 questions related attitudes/behaviors with a five-point Likert scale, ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree, where Strongly Agree indicates a greater likelihood for the behavior/more positive attitude.
Change in participant reciprocity	Baseline, 5-years	The number of reciprocal ties, which is the extent to which individuals within the network recognize each other as valued resources/collaborators as measured by an unbounded social media analysis.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Kentucky; 🇺🇸 Lexington, Kentucky, United States