TY - JOUR
T1 - Stop and listen to the people
T2 - An enhanced approach to cancer cluster investigations
AU - Simpson, Brian W.
AU - Truant, Patti
AU - Resnick, Beth A.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - Cancer cluster investigations need to address the disconnect between traditional public health approaches and human needs. Cancer cluster investigations often magnify fear and uncertainty because they rarely find a definitive environmental cause. Traditional approaches emphasize population-level data analysis and undervalue active listening. Because few studies have explored active listening in cancer cluster investigations, we conducted a descriptive oral history case study of a Frederick, Maryland, investigation. We interviewed 12 community members and 9 public health professionals about the investigation of a perceived cancer cluster. Many believed it was linked to environmental contamination at Fort Detrick, a local US Army base. We propose enhanced active listening that seeks out peoples' perspectives, validates their concerns, and engages them in the investigative process.
AB - Cancer cluster investigations need to address the disconnect between traditional public health approaches and human needs. Cancer cluster investigations often magnify fear and uncertainty because they rarely find a definitive environmental cause. Traditional approaches emphasize population-level data analysis and undervalue active listening. Because few studies have explored active listening in cancer cluster investigations, we conducted a descriptive oral history case study of a Frederick, Maryland, investigation. We interviewed 12 community members and 9 public health professionals about the investigation of a perceived cancer cluster. Many believed it was linked to environmental contamination at Fort Detrick, a local US Army base. We propose enhanced active listening that seeks out peoples' perspectives, validates their concerns, and engages them in the investigative process.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301836
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301836
M3 - Article
C2 - 24832152
AN - SCOPUS:84902665552
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 104
SP - 1204
EP - 1208
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 7
ER -