PA Health and Environment Studies: Study 1 (Childhood cancer case-control study)
Recently Completed
We have received all cancer case data and have sent initial recruitment mailings to 92% of eligible case families. We have interviewed 87% of the consented case families thus far.
We have modified our interviewing efforts to allow the option of completing an online survey to ease the burden of participation on families and to increase participation rates. Participants may choose if they prefer to enroll by mail or online, and to complete their interview by phone or by online survey.
In Progress
We are nearing completion of case recruitment, enrollment, and interviewing and will finish within the next quarter of work.
We are preparing to recruit and enroll two controls per case family and will begin interviewing control families in the next quarter of work.
We are preparing to host informational sessions within the study area to increase study visibility and to address any concerns residents have regarding this study.
Challenges/Solutions
There have been delays in receiving complete cancer case data and control data from PADOH Vital Statistics. All outstanding case data were received during this quarter, and we are still awaiting receipt of a set of accurate, matched-control families to recruit and interview. We anticipate that all outstanding control data will be obtained early in this next quarter of work.
PA Health and Environment Studies: Study 2 (Asthma and birth cohort studies)
Recently Completed
Birth outcomes: Our quality assurance checks and descriptive analyses are complete.
Asthma: We continued quality assurance checks and descriptive analyses.
Exposure: We have obtained all data required to calculate unconventional natural gas development well activity metrics.
In Progress
We are performing quality assurance checks and descriptive analyses for the asthma cohort file.
We are combining environmental, exposure, and census data so we can link it to residential location. This information will be used to evaluate residential-level exposures potentially related to unconventional natural gas activities and other industries in the eight-county study area (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties).
Challenges/Solutions
There was a delay in receiving portions of the data for the birth and asthma cohorts. All outstanding data were received during this quarter.
