EXPLORING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH LITERACY: CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

Purpose/Aims: The purpose of the study is to discover and explore meanings assigned to environmental health (EH) terms by Hispanic, American Indian, and farm family adults in a Pacific Northwest agricultural county with known environmental hazards. The aims of the study are to 1) to discover how people from populations at-risk for environmental exposures culturally understand, define, and use environmental health terms in common language, and (2) to compare differences and similarities of the perceptions and meanings of EH terms in at-risk populations.

Rational/Conceptual Basis/Background: Environmental health literacy (EHL) is necessary for people to understand the link between their environments and health, and includes knowledge of EH terms. It combines environmental literacy (ability to read, understand and act on environmental information) and health literacy. Previous studies have shown that current terms used by health professionals and scientists are difficult, technical, and/or confusing. Yet, health professionals including nurses need to educate populations about their EH risks to prevent poor health outcomes. It is known that there is less health literacy and more environmental health risks to rural families, and much higher rates of health problems in agricultural populations. However, there is not much known about how different populations acknowledge and interpret terms used to inform people about environmental health risks. Health professionals, including nurses, cannot change risk perceptions, and therefore behaviors, until perceptions about the information provided are known. If cultural meanings for health terms and risks are known, new information that reflects those meanings may be more accepted.

Methods: A qualitative design using focus groups to discover common themes is currently underway. Participants include Hispanic, American Indian, and agricultural farm family residents of Yakima County, Washington. A total of 6 homogenous focus groups (2 Hispanic, 2 American Indian, 2 farm family groups) are being held over a five month period. Each focus group will have 6-10 participants. Written notes and audiotaped transcriptions of within and between all groups will be used for a thematic analysis. Major themes or concepts identified will be reported as to general consensus, meaningfulness of themes, theme refinement, and differences among groups.

Results: Expected results will assist in our future research to increase environmental health literacy and reduce home and workplace environmental risks through nurse interventions for rural residents.

Implications:  Information obtained in the planned focus groups about cultural meanings of EH terms will assist in development of new tailored media material that nurses and other health professionals may use to educate people about environmental health. Results from comparing different cultural groups will also provide clues as to which cultural factors may more fully influence perceptions when designing or modifying EH interventions.