Educational Campaign for VOC Exposure

Overseen By Sa Liu, MPH, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Purdue University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

510 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Groundwater in Martinsville, IN, is contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Indoor air in some residential and commercial buildings is also contaminated with PCE and TCE. This study is being conducted to better understand the impact of low-level exposures to these compounds on community members' health. Data collected in this study will be used to help the community identify a course of action.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Environmental educational campaign, Community Education Program, Environmental Awareness Campaign?

Research shows that patient education can significantly improve compliance with treatment plans and enhance knowledge about managing health conditions. Programs that focus on changing the environment and behavior, rather than just providing information, are more successful in improving health outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the educational campaign for VOC exposure differ from other treatments for VOC exposure?

The educational campaign for VOC exposure is unique because it focuses on increasing awareness and knowledge about VOC risks through community-based education, rather than using medical or chemical interventions. This approach aims to empower individuals with information to reduce exposure and improve health outcomes, which is different from traditional treatments that might focus on direct medical interventions. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Sa Liu, MPH, PhD

Principal Investigator

Purdue University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for residents of Martinsville, Indiana, aged between 18 and 64 years old. It's focused on understanding the health effects of low-level exposure to certain chemicals in their environment.

Inclusion Criteria

Residents of Martinsville, Indiana

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Exposure Assessment

Determine the extent and exposure levels to the contaminants by measuring the contamination in residents and at their homes

12 months

Multiple visits for environmental testing

Community Engagement and Education

Assess community concerns and perceptions, and co-design a targeted educational campaign to reduce exposure

24 months

Community meetings and educational sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in concerns, awareness, and willingness to test homes over time

36 months

Surveys at Year 1, Year 3, and Year 5

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Environmental educational campaign

Trial Overview The intervention being studied is an environmental educational campaign aimed at addressing the impact of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure from contaminated groundwater and indoor air.

Participant Groups

Group I: Martinsville Residents Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Residents of Martinsville, Indiana, will receive educational campaign promoting participation in environmental testing

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Purdue University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

239

Recruited

72,200+

Indiana University School of Medicine

Collaborator

Trials

194

Recruited

181,000+

University of Illinois at Chicago

Collaborator

Trials

653

Recruited

1,574,000+

Mackey Children's Cancer Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

510+

Findings from Research

Patient education significantly improves compliance with therapeutic regimens in chronic disease management, with an average improvement of 0.67 sigma over control groups, indicating a strong effect.

While patient education also leads to improvements in physiological progress (0.49 sigma) and health outcomes (0.02 sigma), the most effective strategies involve behaviorally-oriented programs that focus on changing the patient's environment rather than just increasing knowledge.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does patient education in chronic disease have therapeutic value? Mazzuca, SA.[2019]

A patient education program developed for cancer patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy significantly improved knowledge about their treatment, achieving posttest scores well above the target of 75% correct answers.

The study involved 72 patients with lung, breast, or prostate cancer, and demonstrated that patients who received the education programs showed true learning effects, particularly in understanding treatment side effects and management strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increasing patients' knowledge of radiation therapy. Mood, DW., Cook, CA., Chadwell, DK.[2019]

Internet-based education significantly improved patients' knowledge levels more than face-to-face education with a nurse in a study involving 147 ambulatory orthopedic surgery patients.

Both education methods were effective in enhancing knowledge, but there was no difference in the sufficiency of knowledge between the two groups, indicating that online education is a viable alternative in ambulatory care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' knowledge with internet-based education. Heikkinen, K., Leino-Kilpi, H., Salanterä, S.[2017]

Effective patient education is crucial for enhancing patient satisfaction and improving clinical outcomes, as it has been shown to reduce hospital stays.

The Patient Family Educational Advisory Committee (PFEAC) emphasizes the need for coordinated health education across all care disciplines, focusing on common issues related to culture, documentation, and competency.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Putting the pieces in place: the patient education puzzle. Gaynor, S., Patyk, M.[2019]

Current COPD patient education programs have shown limited success, indicating a need for more effective designs that go beyond just providing medical information.

Future programs should focus on improving patients' self-efficacy in disease management and include a broader range of health behavior determinants to enhance their effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient education programs--can they improve outcomes in COPD? Harris, M., Smith, BJ., Veale, A.[2021]

A community-based educational program, the Community Environmental Toxicology Curriculum (CETC), was developed to improve communication and trust between residents and city officials regarding lead contamination in soil from past waste incineration in Jacksonville, Florida.

Participants in the CETC showed significant knowledge gains, averaging 47% for community leaders and 24% for residents, indicating the program's effectiveness in raising awareness about environmental risks and remediation processes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community-Based Participatory Research at Jacksonville Florida Superfund Ash Site: Toxicology Training to Improve the Knowledge of the Lay Community. Becker, A., Suther, S., Harris, C., et al.[2022]

Personal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was found to be significantly higher than both indoor and outdoor concentrations, highlighting the importance of individual monitoring for accurate risk assessment.

The U.S. EPA's ASPEN model underestimated personal exposure risks, particularly for VOCs with indoor sources, leading to a three-fold greater estimated lifetime cancer risk based on actual personal exposures compared to model estimates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Personal exposure meets risk assessment: a comparison of measured and modeled exposures and risks in an urban community. Payne-Sturges, DC., Burke, TA., Breysse, P., et al.[2018]

A study measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in children from two inner-city schools in Minneapolis found that personal exposure (P) to VOCs was generally higher than indoor school (S) and outdoor (O) levels, with home (H) environments contributing the most to personal exposure.

Notably, while most VOC levels were similar to or lower than those found in other studies, p-dichlorobenzene levels were exceptionally high, exceeding health benchmarks and indicating potential long-term health risks for children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outdoor, indoor, and personal exposure to VOCs in children. Adgate, JL., Church, TR., Ryan, AD., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 206 blood samples from residents near an industrial complex and a control area, only acetone levels were significantly higher in the target area, suggesting limited exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the industrial site.

The study concluded that there was no overall association between living near the industrial complex and elevated blood VOC levels, indicating that blood VOC testing should be reserved for areas with confirmed recent exposure or unusual health concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Volatile organic compound testing of a population living near a hazardous waste site. Hamar, GB., McGeehin, MA., Phifer, BL., et al.[2013]

The Environmental Health/Home Safety Education Project has effectively increased knowledge and changed behaviors related to fire and food safety among participants living on the U.S.-Mexico border, demonstrating its impact from 2002 to 2005.

Utilizing trained community members (promotoras) for home assessments has led to significant improvements in home safety, making the project sustainable and appealing for future funding.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Environmental Health/Home Safety Education Project: a successful and practical U.S.-Mexico border initiative. Forster-Cox, SC., Mangadu, T., Jacquez, B., et al.[2019]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does patient education in chronic disease have therapeutic value? [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increasing patients' knowledge of radiation therapy. [2019]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' knowledge with internet-based education. [2017]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Putting the pieces in place: the patient education puzzle. [2019]

5. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient education programs--can they improve outcomes in COPD? [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community-Based Participatory Research at Jacksonville Florida Superfund Ash Site: Toxicology Training to Improve the Knowledge of the Lay Community. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Personal exposure meets risk assessment: a comparison of measured and modeled exposures and risks in an urban community. [2018]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outdoor, indoor, and personal exposure to VOCs in children. [2021]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Volatile organic compound testing of a population living near a hazardous waste site. [2013]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Environmental Health/Home Safety Education Project: a successful and practical U.S.-Mexico border initiative. [2019]