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Shah SGS, Barrado-Martín Y, Marjot T, Tomlinson JW, Kiparoglou V. Recruitment, Retention, and Training of Citizen Scientists in Translational Medicine Research: A Citizen Science Initiative on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Cureus 2024; 16:e56038. [PMID: 38606249 PMCID: PMC11008778 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Citizen science is a participatory science approach in which members of the public (citizens) collaborate with scientists and professional researchers and become involved in research and innovation activities, resulting in the co-creation of scientific knowledge and innovation. Citizen science has been widely applied in research, particularly in the social sciences, environmental sciences, information and communication technologies, and public health. However, the application of this approach in clinical sciences, particularly in translational medicine research, is still nascent. This exploratory study involved members of the public (citizen scientists) in a translational medicine experiment on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that incorporated a lifestyle and weight-loss intervention. The aim of this paper is to report successful methods and approaches for the recruitment, retention, and training of citizen scientists. For the citizen scientists' recruitment, online calls placed on the websites of our research project and biomedical research center and targeted emails were the most helpful. Of the 14 members of the public who expressed interest in our study, six were recruited as citizen scientists. Citizen scientists were mostly female (n = 5, 83%), white (n = 3, 50%), over 50 years of age (n = 4, 67%), educated to postgraduate level (n = 5, 83%), and either retired or not in employment (n = 5, 83%). The retention rate was 83% (n = 5), and the dropout rate was 17% (n = 1). We arranged instructor-led interactive online training sessions (an hour-long one-on-one session and two-hour group sessions). Research skills training covered ethics in research and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Citizen scientists were given several incentives, such as reimbursement of travel and care costs, selection as citizen scientists of the month, publications of their blogs and perspective articles, and co-authorship and acknowledgement in papers and project deliverables. To conclude, members of the public (particularly middle-aged white women with postgraduate education) are interested in becoming citizen scientists in translational medicine research. Their retention rate is higher, and they can contribute to different research activities. However, they need training to develop their research skills and expertise. The training should be simple, comprehensive, and flexible to accommodate the schedules of individual citizen scientists. They deserve incentives as they work on a voluntary basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Ghulam Sarwar Shah
- Public Health, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Services (NHS) Foundation Trust, Oxford, GBR
| | | | - Thomas Marjot
- Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of Oxford, Oxford, GBR
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Baker K, Burd L, Figueroa R. Consumer nutrition environment measurements for nutrient-dense food availability and food sustainability: a scoping review. Arch Public Health 2024; 82:7. [PMID: 38225657 PMCID: PMC10789067 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01231-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Consumer nutrition environments are defined as places in which consumers interact with the food they eat; these food choices can impact human and planetary health. Assessment measures for consumer nutrition environments are numerous, and vary widely on what, and how, they assess the food environment. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesize existing evidence on nutrition environment measurements and their capacity to assess nutrient-dense food access and food sustainability capacity. Eligibility criteria were developed to capture relevant peer-reviewed literature about auditing measures designed to assess nutrient-dense foods and food sustainability capacity in the consumer nutrition environment. A search strategy was conducted to collect articles published between January 1, 2002-June 4, 2022, using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and the Cochrane library electronic databases. After screening 2457 manuscripts, 58 met inclusion criteria. Study aims, funding source(s), types of retailers assessed, assessment format and name, constructs measured, food categories measured, assessment of validity and/or reliability, and other relevant data were extracted from each manuscript. Results showed that most measures use checklists, surveys, questionnaires or similar methods to assess availability, quality, and price of select food items as assessment constructs. Most do not assess nutrient-dense food availability, and even fewer assess food sustainability. Development of comprehensive, reliable, and valid consumer nutrition environment measures that assess nutrient-dense food availability and food sustainability is important for research, planning, evaluation and advocacy aimed at improving consumer food environments for human and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Baker
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Laura Burd
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Roger Figueroa
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Monaghan J, Backholer K, McKelvey AL, Christidis R, Borda A, Calyx C, Crocetti A, Driessen C, Zorbas C. Citizen science approaches to crowdsourcing food environment data: A scoping review of the literature. Obes Rev 2023; 24:e13618. [PMID: 37602970 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Globally, the adoption and implementation of policies to improve the healthiness of food environments and prevent population weight gain have been inadequate. This is partly because of the complexity associated with monitoring dynamic food environments. Crowdsourcing is a citizen science approach that can increase the extent and nature of food environment data collection by engaging citizens as sensors or volunteered computing experts. There has been no literature synthesis to guide the application of crowdsourcing to food environment monitoring. We systematically conducted a scoping review to address this gap. Forty-two articles met our eligibility criteria. Photovoice techniques were the most employed methodological approaches (n = 25 studies), commonly used to understand overall access to healthy food. A small number of studies made purpose-built apps to collect price or nutritional composition data and were scaled to receive large amounts of data points. Twenty-nine studies crowdsourced food environment data by engaging priority populations (e.g., households receiving low incomes). There is growing potential to develop scalable crowdsourcing platforms to understand food environments through the eyes of everyday people. Such crowdsourced data may improve public and policy engagement with equitable food policy actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Monaghan
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amy-Louise McKelvey
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca Christidis
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ann Borda
- Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cobi Calyx
- Environment and Society Group, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alessandro Crocetti
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christine Driessen
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christina Zorbas
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Paripati N, Nesi L, Sterrett JD, Dawud LM, Kessler LR, Lowry CA, Perez LJ, DeSipio J, Phadtare S. Gut Microbiome and Lipidome Signatures in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients from a Low-Income, Food-Desert Area: A Pilot Study. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2503. [PMID: 37894161 PMCID: PMC10609137 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastroenterological disorder with triggers such as fructose. We showed that our IBS patients suffering from socioeconomic challenges have a significantly high consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Here, we characterize gut microbial dysbiosis and fatty acid changes, with respect to IBS, HFCS consumption, and socioeconomic factors. Fecal samples from IBS patients and healthy controls were subjected to microbiome and lipidome analyses. We assessed phylogenetic diversity and community composition of the microbiomes, and used linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), analysis of compositions of microbiomes (ANCOM) on highly co-occurring subcommunities (modules), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) on phylogenetic isometric log-ratio transformed (PhILR) taxon abundances to identify differentially abundant taxa. Based on a Procrustes randomization test, the microbiome and lipidome datasets correlated significantly (p = 0.002). Alpha diversity correlated with economic factors (p < 0.001). Multiple subsets of the phylogenetic tree were associated with HFCS consumption (p < 0.001). In IBS patients, relative abundances of potentially beneficial bacteria such as Monoglobaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were lower (p = 0.007), and Eisenbergiella, associated with inflammatory disorders, was higher. In IBS patients, certain saturated fatty acids were higher and unsaturated fatty acids were lower (p < 0.05). Our study aims first to underscore the influence of HFCS consumption and socioeconomic factors on IBS pathophysiology, and provides new insights that inform patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Paripati
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Penn Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Lauren Nesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Department of Urology, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI 4820, USA
| | - John D Sterrett
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Lamya'a M Dawud
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Lyanna R Kessler
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Lark J Perez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Joshua DeSipio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Sangita Phadtare
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
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Sriram U, Graham ML, Folta S, Paul L, Seguin-Fowler RA. Integrating Civic Engagement Into a Lifestyle Intervention for Rural Women - A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:807-820. [PMID: 37057901 PMCID: PMC10521917 DOI: 10.1177/08901171231168500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study aimed to evaluate the implementation of a civic engagement curriculum (HEART Club) designed to catalyze positive environmental change in rural communities. DESIGN The HEART Club curriculum was integrated into a six-month community-based health behavior intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. SETTING Participants were recruited from eight rural towns in Montana and New York. SUBJECTS 101 midlife and older women. INTERVENTION Participants worked to address an issue related to their local food or physical activity environment and establish progress monitoring benchmarks. METHOD Evaluation components included after-class surveys, program leader interviews (n = 15), participant focus groups (n = 8), and post-intervention surveys. RESULTS Intervention sites reported high fidelity (78%) to the curriculum. Average attendance was 69% and program classes were rated as highly effective (4.1 out of 5). Despite positive participant feedback, low readiness for civic engagement and insufficient time were implementation challenges. The majority of HEART Club groups had accomplished two or more benchmarks post-intervention. Facilitators of progress included community support, effective leadership, and collective effort. Participants also indicated that trying to affect community change while simultaneously making personal health improvements likely stalled initial progress. CONCLUSION These findings highlight the potential and challenges associated with civic engagement within the context of rural lifestyle interventions. Future implementation efforts should focus on reframing civic engagement as an approach to support and maintain behavior change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urshila Sriram
- Department of Nutrition, Simmons University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sara Folta
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lynn Paul
- College of Education, Health, and Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Rebecca A Seguin-Fowler
- Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, 1500 Research Parkway, Centeq Building B, College Station 77845 TX, USA
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Paripati N, Dugan C, Nesi L, Mone A, Patel S, Gaughan J, DeSipio J, Phadtare S. Relationship between irritable bowel syndrome, psychological comorbidities and the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in a low-income community in a food desert area. CLINICAL NUTRITION OPEN SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nutos.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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Pedersen M, Wood GER, Fernes PK, Goldman Rosas L, Banchoff A, King AC. The "Our Voice" Method: Participatory Action Citizen Science Research to Advance Behavioral Health and Health Equity Outcomes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192214773. [PMID: 36429494 PMCID: PMC9690580 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Citizen science research that more fully engages the community can systematically involve people from under-resourced groups to create practical health-enhancing improvements across physical, social and food environments. Exemplary health equity-focused outcomes include key health behaviors (e.g., healthy eating or physical activity) and community-level changes (e.g., public transit to food shops) that are central to health promotion while being demonstrably impacted by local environmental contexts. Yet, few examples of this approach are readily available for application within complex, community-based settings. In this paper, we present the Our Voice (OV) four-step method to demonstrate an integrated participatory citizen science approach and its usability for action-focused researchers and community health practitioners. In addition, we present a summary of the major research, processes, and community outcomes, with examples drawn from nutrition and healthy food access areas, among others. Finally, we explore the hallmark features of the OV method that effectively engage citizen scientists, empowering action and fostering solution-building across social and environmental structures impacting community health. Expanding research that marries participatory research philosophies with innovative citizen science methods, supported by systematic data collection, visualization, and delivery technologies, in turn provides a powerful toolkit for tackling local to global health equity challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Pedersen
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, 1701 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.E.R.W.); (P.K.F.)
| | - Grace E. R. Wood
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.E.R.W.); (P.K.F.)
| | - Praveena K. Fernes
- Department of Health Services and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1H 9SH, UK
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.E.R.W.); (P.K.F.)
| | - Lisa Goldman Rosas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, 1701 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ann Banchoff
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, 1701 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Abby C. King
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, 1701 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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Afaneh H, Fernes PK, Lewis EC, King AC, Banchoff A, Sheats JL. Our Voice NOLA: Leveraging a Community Engaged Citizen Science Method to Contextualize the New Orleans Food Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14790. [PMID: 36429511 PMCID: PMC9690676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We employed the Our Voice citizen scientist method using a mobile application (app) to identify and contextualize neighborhood-level features influencing food access and wellbeing in New Orleans, Louisiana. DESIGN A three-phase, multi-method study comprised of: (1) a researcher-assisted tag-a-long neighborhood walk (referred to as a 'journey') with the Discovery Tool (DT) app to document neighborhood-level features via geo-coded photos and audio-recorded narratives; (2) a post-journey interview to enable citizen scientists to share their lived experiences; and (3) a community meeting with citizen scientists and local stakeholders. SETTING Various neighborhoods in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. PARTICIPANTS Citizen Scientists (i.e., residents) aged 18 years and older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Features that influence food access and health behaviors. ANALYSIS Descriptive statistics and a thematic content analysis were conducted to assess survey and app data. RESULTS Citizen scientists (N = 14) captured 178 photos and 184 audio narratives. Eight major themes were identified: safety; walkability; aesthetics; amenities; food; health services; neighborhood changes; and infrastructure/city planning. The post-journey interview provided insights around the abovementioned themes. The community meeting demonstrated the willingness of citizen scientists and stakeholders to convene and discuss issues and relevant solutions. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings demonstrate the ability of technology and citizen science to help better understand the complexities of New Orleans' past, present and distinct culture-and implications for food access and wellbeing in the context of trauma in an urban ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasheemah Afaneh
- Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Praveena K. Fernes
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Emma C. Lewis
- Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Abby C. King
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ann Banchoff
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jylana L. Sheats
- Nutrition, Social Behavioral and Population Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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van der Feltz S, van der Molen HF, Lelie L, Hulshof CTJ, van der Beek AJ, Proper KI. Changes in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Leisure Time Physical Exercise after a Citizen Science-Based Worksite Health Promotion Program for Blue-Collar Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13652. [PMID: 36294231 PMCID: PMC9603698 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Blue-collar workers have, on average, poorer health than white-collar workers. Existing worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs) are often not successful among blue-collar workers. This study evaluates the effect of the Citizen Science-based WHPP on the targeted lifestyle behaviors among construction workers. The data of 114 participants were retrieved from questionnaires before (T0) and after (T1) the WHPP. Outcome measures were mean and categorical changes in daily fruit and vegetable intake and weekly leisure time physical exercise. Changes were tested using Wilcoxon signed rank tests and McNemar tests. No statistically significant changes were found between T0 and T1. In total, 73.7% of the participants felt involved in the WHPP. Changes in the outcome measures were not significantly different between subgroups based on age, nor in subgroups based on feelings of involvedness. The low intensity of the developed program could be an explanation for this lack of significant change. Future studies using the Citizen Science approach in an occupational setting should aim at developing a more intensified program and should test its effectiveness by comparing changes in a (randomized) controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie van der Feltz
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henk F. van der Molen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Lelie
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carel T. J. Hulshof
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Allard J. van der Beek
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karin I. Proper
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Mendoza-Vasconez AS, McLaughlin E, Sallis JF, Maibach E, Epel E, Bennett G, Nogueira L, Thayer J, Dietz WH. Advocacy to support climate and health policies: recommended actions for the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Transl Behav Med 2022; 12:535-543. [PMID: 35613003 DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change poses serious threats to public health and is exacerbating health inequities. Policy changes are essential to mitigate climate change impacts on human and planetary health. The purpose was to describe recommendations by the Policy and Advocacy Subgroup of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Climate Change, Behavior Change and Health Presidential Working Group (PWG). The Policy and Advocacy subgroup was comprised of experts in public health, climate policy, and health behavior change, who worked together to identify priorities and develop recommendations. We worked under the premise that building political will for climate policy action is the most urgent goal, and we recommended promotion of citizen advocacy for this purpose. Because citizen advocacy is a set of behaviors, SBM members can use behavioral science to identify and scale up interventions, working collaboratively with communities targeted for marginalization. Recommendations for SBM included establishing an organizational home for climate and health work, providing training and resources, engaging in climate advocacy as an organization, and networking with other organizations. Recommendations for a proposed SBM Climate and Health Committee, Council, or Special Interest Group included developing trainings and resources, seeking opportunities for networking and collaborations, and identifying a research agenda. Individual behavior changes are insufficient to address climate change; policy actions are needed. SBM and similar organizations can support their members to work in developing, evaluating, and scaling up advocacy interventions for action on climate policy to magnify the power of the health and medical sectors to protect planetary and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Mendoza-Vasconez
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Elizabeth McLaughlin
- Department of Psychiatry, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - James F Sallis
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Edward Maibach
- Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Gary Bennett
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Leticia Nogueira
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Julian Thayer
- Department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - William H Dietz
- Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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Marks L, Laird Y, Trevena H, Smith BJ, Rowbotham S. A Scoping Review of Citizen Science Approaches in Chronic Disease Prevention. Front Public Health 2022; 10:743348. [PMID: 35615030 PMCID: PMC9125037 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.743348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Citizen science approaches, which involve members of the public as active collaborators in scientific research, are increasingly being recognized for their potential benefits in chronic disease prevention. However, understanding the potential applicability, feasibility and impacts of these approaches is necessary if they are to be more widely used. This study aimed to synthesize research that has applied and evaluated citizen science approaches in chronic disease prevention and identify key questions, gaps, and opportunities to inform future work in this field. Methods We searched six databases (Scopus, Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, and CINAHL) in January 2022 to identify articles on the use of citizen science in prevention. We extracted and synthesized data on key characteristics of citizen science projects, including topics, aims and level of involvement of citizen scientists, as well as methods and findings of evaluations of these projects. Results Eighty-one articles reported on citizen science across a variety of health issues, predominantly physical activity and/or nutrition. Projects primarily aimed to identify problems from the perspective of community members; generate and prioritize solutions; develop, test or evaluate interventions; or build community capacity. Most projects were small-scale, and few were co-produced with policy or practice stakeholders. While around half of projects included an evaluation component, overall, there was a lack of robust, in-depth evaluations of the processes and impacts of citizen science projects. Conclusions Citizen science approaches are increasingly being used in chronic disease prevention to identify and prioritize community-focused solutions, mobilize support and advocacy, and empower communities to take action to support their health and wellbeing. However, to realize the potential of this approach more attention needs to be paid to demonstrating the feasibility of using citizen science approaches at scale, and to rigorous evaluation of impacts from using these approaches for the diverse stakeholders involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Marks
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yvonne Laird
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Helen Trevena
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ben J. Smith
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Samantha Rowbotham
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Raber M, Ranjit N, Strong LL, Basen-Engquist K. Home Cooking Quality Assessment Tool Validation Using Community Science and Crowdsourcing Approaches. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 54:465-474. [PMID: 35000831 PMCID: PMC9086075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To refine a measure of home cooking quality (defined as the usage level of practices with the potential to influence the nutrient content of prepared foods) and conduct a construct validation of the revised tool, the Healthy Cooking Questionnaire 2 (HCQ2). DESIGN Two validation approaches are described: (1) a community science approach used to refine and validate Healthy Cooking Questionnaire (HCQ) constructs, and (2) responses to the revised HCQ (HCQ2) in a sample of Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers to determine questionnaire comprehension. SETTING The Community Scientist Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center facilitated discussion groups to refine the HCQ questions and validate constructs. MTurk workers were subsequently recruited to complete the refined survey so that comprehension and associations with demographic variables could be explored. PARTICIPANTS Ten community scientists participated in the refinement of the HCQ. The revised tool (HCQ2) was completed by 267 adult US-based MTurk workers. VARIABLES MEASURED Demographics, HCQ concepts, HCQ2, Self-Reported Questionnaire Comprehension. ANALYSIS Comprehension items were examined using descriptive statistics. Exploratory analysis the relationships between cooking quality and demographic characteristics, meal type, cooking frequency, as well as patterns of food preparation behavior was conducted on the MTurk sample RESULTS: The HCQ was refined through activities and consensus-building. MTurk responses to the HCQ2 indicated high comprehension and significant differences in cooking quality scores by demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This study refined and validated a self-report measure of cooking quality. Cooking quality measures offer critical evaluation methods for culinary programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Raber
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
| | - Nalini Ranjit
- Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Larkin L Strong
- Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Karen Basen-Engquist
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Rajamani G, Rodriguez Espinosa P, Rosas LG. Intersection of Health Informatics Tools and Community Engagement in Health-Related Research to Reduce Health Inequities: Scoping Review. J Particip Med 2021; 13:e30062. [PMID: 34797214 PMCID: PMC8663666 DOI: 10.2196/30062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The exponential growth of health information technology has the potential to facilitate community engagement in research. However, little is known about the use of health information technology in community-engaged research, such as which types of health information technology are used, which populations are engaged, and what are the research outcomes. Objective The objectives of this scoping review were to examine studies that used health information technology for community engagement and to assess (1) the types of populations, (2) community engagement strategies, (3) types of health information technology tools, and (4) outcomes of interest. Methods We searched PubMed and PCORI Literature Explorer using terms related to health information technology, health informatics, community engagement, and stakeholder involvement. This search process yielded 967 papers for screening. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, a total of 37 papers were analyzed for key themes and for approaches relevant to health information technology and community engagement research. Results This analysis revealed that the communities engaged were generally underrepresented populations in health-related research, including racial or ethnic minority communities such as Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Latino ethnicity, and communities from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The studies focused on various age groups, ranging from preschoolers to older adults. The studies were also geographically spread across the United States and the world. Community engagement strategies included collaborative development of health information technology tools and partnerships to promote use (encompassing collaborative development, use of community advisory boards, and focus groups for eliciting information needs) and use of health information technology to engage communities in research (eg, through citizen science). The types of technology varied across studies, with mobile or tablet-based apps being the most common platform. Outcomes measured included eliciting user needs and requirements, assessing health information technology tools and prototypes with participants, measuring knowledge, and advocating for community change. Conclusions This study illustrates the current landscape at the intersection of health information technology tools and community-engaged research approaches. It highlights studies in which various community-engaged research approaches were used to design culturally centered health information technology tools, to promote health information technology uptake, or for engagement in health research and advocacy. Our findings can serve as a platform for generating future research upon which to expand the scope of health information technology tools and their use for meaningful stakeholder engagement. Studies that incorporate community context and needs have a greater chance of cocreating culturally centered health information technology tools and better knowledge to promote action and improve health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Rajamani
- Department of Human Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Lisa G Rosas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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14
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Lynch M, Mah CL. “Fronts for Drugs, Money Laundering, and Other Stuff”: Convenience Stores in the Retail Food Environment. JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2021.2002747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lynch
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - C. L. Mah
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
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15
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Abstract
While there are many definitions of citizen science, the term usually refers to the participation of the general public in the scientific process in collaboration with professional scientists. Citizen scientists have been engaged to promote health equity, especially in the areas of environmental contaminant exposures, physical activity, and healthy eating. Citizen scientists commonly come from communities experiencing health inequities and have collected data using a range of strategies and technologies, such as air sensors, water quality kits, and mobile applications. On the basis of our review, and to advance the field of citizen science to address health equity, we recommend (a) expanding the focus on topics important for health equity, (b) increasing the diversity of people serving as citizen scientists, (c) increasing the integration of citizen scientists in additional research phases, (d) continuing to leverage emerging technologies that enable citizen scientists to collect data relevant for health equity, and (e) strengthening the rigor of methods to evaluate impacts on health equity. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa G Rosas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA;
| | - Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA;
| | | | - Abby C King
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA;
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16
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Oakden L, Bridge G, Armstrong B, Reynolds C, Wang C, Panzone L, Rivera XS, Kause A, Ffoulkes C, Krawczyk C, Miller G, Serjeant S. The Importance of Citizen Scientists in the Move Towards Sustainable Diets and a Sustainable Food System. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.596594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To enhance sustainability, the food system requires significant shifts in the production, processing and supply of food. Ideally, a sustainable food system should operate, not only to protect the biosphere, but also to provide nutritious, high-quality food, and to support social values, an equitable economy, and human and animal health. It should also be governed responsibly within a supportive policy environment. Implementing these shifts is a task of immense scale; but citizen participation/engagement has the potential to help make sustainability a reality through distributed learning, dynamic sensing, and knowledge generation. Technological advancements in sensing and data processing have enabled new forms of citizen participation in research. When food system research is embedded within society it can help us to understand which changes towards sustainability work and which do not. Indeed, citizen engagement in food systems research has the potential to help bring citizens on side, supporting the growth of a food culture of resilience and of sustainable practises (including dietary change). This commentary provides examples of how existing research and alternative food production systems and agroecological practises may provide possible frameworks for citizen participation in food system studies. We highlight potential future food and citizen science approaches. Widening citizen participation and encouraging the involvement of other food system actors, including those in local, national and international governance, is essential to capture the full potential of citizen science in enabling transition to a sustainable food system. For the research community citizen science offers engagement and empowerment of wider communities with science; collecting and analysing data; and creating viable solutions to food system and diet issues.
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17
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Thomas JA, Trigg J, Morris J, Miller E, Ward PR. Exploring the potential of citizen science for public health through an alcohol advertising case study. Health Promot Int 2021; 37:6361023. [PMID: 34468730 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Citizen science connects academic researchers with the public through combined efforts in scientific inquiry. The importance of involving impacted populations in health research is well established. However, how to achieve meaningful participation and the methodological impact of citizen science needs further examination. We examined the feasibility of using citizen science to understand the impact of alcohol advertising on Australian women through a breast cancer prevention project. Two hundred and eighty-two ('participants') citizen scientists completed demographic and behavioural questions via an online survey. The research participants moved into the role of citizen scientists by completing the data collection tasks of capturing and classifying images of alcohol advertising they saw online. Interrater reliability tests found high levels of agreement between citizen scientists and academic researchers with the classification of alcohol advertising brand (Kappa = 0.964, p < 0.001) and image type (Kappa = 0.936, p < 0.000). The citizen scientists were women aged 18 and over, with 62% between 35 and 55 years old. The majority were from major cities (78%), had attained a bachelor's degree or higher-level education (62%) and were recruited via email or Facebook (86%). The use of citizen science provided methodological gains through the creation of a unique dataset with higher levels of validity than the existing literature, which employed traditional investigator-driven research methodologies. Citizen science enriched the dataset and provided a powerful methodological vehicle to understand an environmental determinant of health. The study illuminates how public participation benefitted the research process, the challenges and the potential for citizen science to improve public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Thomas
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua Trigg
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Julia Morris
- Behavioural Research and Evaluation Unit, Cancer Council SA, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Emma Miller
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Paul R Ward
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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18
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Rubio MA, Triana C, King AC, Rosas LG, Banchoff AW, Rubiano O, Chrisinger BW, Sarmiento OL. Engaging citizen scientists to build healthy park environments in Colombia. Health Promot Int 2021; 36:223-234. [PMID: 32361761 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Colombia's Recreovía program offers community-based free physical activity (PA) classes in parks. We evaluated built and social environmental factors influencing Recreovía local park environments, and facilitated a consensus-building and advocacy process among community members, policymakers and academic researchers aimed at improving uptake and impact of the Recreovía program. We used a mixed-methods approach, with individual and contextual PA measurements and a resident-enabled participatory approach (the Our Voice citizen science engagement model). Recreovía participants were likely to be women meeting PA recommendations, and highly satisfied with the Recreovía classes. Reported facilitators of the Recreovía included its role in enhancing social and individual well-being through PA classes. Reported barriers to usage were related to park maintenance, cleanliness and safety. The Our Voice process elicited community reflection, empowerment, advocacy and action. Our Voice facilitated the interplay among stakeholders and community members to optimize the Recreovía program as a facilitator of active living, and to make park environments more welcoming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Camilo Triana
- School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 n°18ª-12 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Abby C King
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lisa G Rosas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ann W Banchoff
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Oscar Rubiano
- Recreovía Program Coordination, Institute of Recreation and Sports, Calle 63 n°59A-0, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Benjamin W Chrisinger
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 2ER, UK
| | - Olga L Sarmiento
- School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 n°18ª-12 Bogotá, Colombia
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The Potential Role of School Citizen Science Programs in Infectious Disease Surveillance: A Critical Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18137019. [PMID: 34209178 PMCID: PMC8297284 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Public involvement in science has allowed researchers to collect large-scale and real-time data and also engage citizens, so researchers are adopting citizen science (CS) in many areas. One promising appeal is student participation in CS school programs. In this literature review, we aimed to investigate which school CS programs exist in the areas of (applied) life sciences and if any projects target infectious disease surveillance. This review’s objectives are to determine success factors in terms of data quality and student engagement. After a comprehensive search in biomedical and social databases, we found 23 projects. None of the projects found focused on infectious disease surveillance, and the majority centered around species biodiversity. While a few projects had issues with data quality, simplifying the protocol or allowing students to resubmit data made the data collected more usable. Overall, students at different educational levels and disciplines were able to collect usable data that was comparable to expert data and had positive learning experiences. In this review, we have identified limitations and gaps in reported CS school projects and provided recommendations for establishing future programs. This review shows the value of using CS in collaboration with traditional research techniques to advance future science and increasingly engage communities.
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20
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Adapting Citizen Science to Improve Health in an Occupational Setting: Preliminary Results of a Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17144917. [PMID: 32650415 PMCID: PMC7400330 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17144917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Health interventions often do not reach blue-collar workers. Citizen science engages target groups in the design and execution of health interventions, but has not yet been applied in an occupational setting. This preliminary study determines barriers and facilitators and feasible elements for citizen science to improve the health of blue-collar workers. The study was conducted in a terminal and construction company by performing semi-structured interviews and focus groups with employees, company management and experts. Interviews and focus groups were analyzed using thematic content analysis and the elements were pilot tested. Workers considered work pressure, work location and several personal factors as barriers for citizen science at the worksite, and (lack of) social support and (negative) social culture both as barriers and facilitators. Citizen science to improve health at the worksite may include three elements: (1) knowledge and skills, (2) social support and social culture, and (3) awareness about lifestyle behaviors. Strategies to implement these elements may be company specific. This study provides relevant indications on feasible elements and strategies for citizen science to improve health at the worksite. Further studies on the feasibility of citizen science in other settings, including a larger and more heterogeneous sample of blue-collar workers, are necessary.
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21
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Borda A, Gray K, Fu Y. Research data management in health and biomedical citizen science: practices and prospects. JAMIA Open 2020; 3:113-125. [PMID: 32607493 PMCID: PMC7309241 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooz052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Public engagement in health and biomedical research is being influenced by the paradigm of citizen science. However, conventional health and biomedical research relies on sophisticated research data management tools and methods. Considering these, what contribution can citizen science make in this field of research? How can it follow research protocols and produce reliable results? Objective The aim of this article is to analyze research data management practices in existing biomedical citizen science studies, so as to provide insights for members of the public and of the research community considering this approach to research. Methods A scoping review was conducted on this topic to determine data management characteristics of health and bio medical citizen science research. From this review and related web searching, we chose five online platforms and a specific research project associated with each, to understand their research data management approaches and enablers. Results Health and biomedical citizen science platforms and projects are diverse in terms of types of work with data and data management activities that in themselves may have scientific merit. However, consistent approaches in the use of research data management models or practices seem lacking, or at least are not prevalent in the review. Conclusions There is potential for important data collection and analysis activities to be opaque or irreproducible in health and biomedical citizen science initiatives without the implementation of a research data management model that is transparent and accessible to team members and to external audiences. This situation might be improved with participatory development of standards that can be applied to diverse projects and platforms, across the research data life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Borda
- Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kathleen Gray
- Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yuqing Fu
- Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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22
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Employing Participatory Citizen Science Methods to Promote Age-Friendly Environments Worldwide. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17051541. [PMID: 32121001 PMCID: PMC7084614 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The trajectory of aging is profoundly impacted by the physical and social environmental contexts in which we live. While “top–down” policy activities can have potentially wide impacts on such contexts, they often take time, resources, and political will, and therefore can be less accessible to underserved communities. This article describes a “bottom–up”, resident-engaged method to advance local environmental and policy change, called Our Voice, that can complement policy-level strategies for improving the health, function, and well-being of older adults. Using the World Health Organization’s age-friendly cities global strategy, we describe the Our Voice citizen science program of research that has specifically targeted older adults as environmental change agents to improve their own health and well-being as well as that of their communities. Results from 14 Our Voice studies that have occurred across five continents demonstrate that older adults can learn to use mobile technology to systematically capture and collectively analyze their own data. They can then successfully build consensus around high-priority issues that can be realistically changed and work effectively with local stakeholders to enact meaningful environmental and policy changes that can help to promote healthy aging. The article ends with recommended next steps for growing the resident-engaged citizen science field to advance the health and welfare of all older adults.
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23
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Odunitan-Wayas FA, Hamann N, Sinyanya NA, King AC, Banchoff A, Winter SJ, Hendricks S, Okop KJ, Lambert EV. A citizen science approach to determine perceived barriers and promoters of physical activity in a low-income South African community. Glob Public Health 2020; 15:749-762. [PMID: 31992139 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1712449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The study's objective was to assess the feasibility of using citizen science to identify and address physical activity (PA) barriers in a low-income South African community. We purposively selected as citizen scientists, eleven participants (21-45 years) from a cohort study who expressed interest in becoming physically active or were already active. They used the Stanford Neighborhood Discovery Tool mobile application to take photos and provide audio narratives of factors in their community that were barriers to or facilitated PA. Thereafter, in a facilitated workshop, citizen scientists thematically reviewed their findings, prioritised issues and proffered potential solutions. Researchers also thematically coded these data. PA levels were measured using standard questionnaires. None of the citizen scientists owned a car, and their PA was either work- or transport-related. Themes identified as priorities that hindered citizen scientists' PA were dirt, sidewalks appropriated by vendors or homeowners, parks and gym vandalisation, and personal safety fears. Access to stadiums and parks enabled PA. Citizen scientists identified their local councillors and street committee chairpersons as fundamental for advocacy for a PA-friendly environment. Low-income community members can be empowered to gather meaningful data using mobile technology and work together to identify potential solutions for promoting PA-friendly environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feyisayo A Odunitan-Wayas
- Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicola Hamann
- Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nandipha A Sinyanya
- Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Abby C King
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ann Banchoff
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sandra J Winter
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sharief Hendricks
- Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kufre J Okop
- Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Estelle V Lambert
- Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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BeLue R, NDao F, McClure S, Alexander S, Walker R. The Role of Social Issues on Food Procurement among Corner Store Owners and Shoppers. Ecol Food Nutr 2019; 59:35-46. [PMID: 31475574 DOI: 10.1080/03670244.2019.1659789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We assessed corner store shopper and owner perceptions, barriers, and enablers related to food procurement in a sample of neighborhood corner stores where over 50% of families are SNAP eligible. DESIGN We conducted semi-structured interviews to identify inventory stocking, shopping and marketing approaches, and perspectives on healthy eating. PARTICIPANTS Five corner store owners and 20 corner store shoppers. RESULTS Corner store owners: 1) did not feel as though they belonged to the community where their corner store was located; 2) had difficulty in becoming authorized WIC retailers because of the perceived complexity of the process, and 3) stated tobacco products and hot food items are their best-selling items; fruits and vegetables were perceived as unmarketable. Corner store shoppers preferred shopping at local corner stores because: 1) lack of transportation made corner stores easier to access than full-service grocery stores; 2) hot foods are readily available and inexpensive; 3) some home kitchens lacked an oven or stovetop for meal preparation; 4) they need to shop daily for children or other family members. CONCLUSIONS Social issues such as housing quality, corner store owner sense of community, and acculturation should be addressed when considering food environment in limited resource communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda BeLue
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Saint Louis University College of Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fatou NDao
- Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie McClure
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Saint Louis University College of Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Suzanne Alexander
- Department of Health Management and Policy, Saint Louis University College of Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Renee Walker
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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25
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Maximizing the promise of citizen science to advance health and prevent disease. Prev Med 2019; 119:44-47. [PMID: 30593793 PMCID: PMC6687391 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Chrisinger BW, King AC. Stress experiences in neighborhood and social environments (SENSE): a pilot study to integrate the quantified self with citizen science to improve the built environment and health. Int J Health Geogr 2018; 17:17. [PMID: 29871687 PMCID: PMC5989430 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-018-0140-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying elements of one's environment-observable and unobservable-that contribute to chronic stress including the perception of comfort and discomfort associated with different settings, presents many methodological and analytical challenges. However, it also presents an opportunity to engage the public in collecting and analyzing their own geospatial and biometric data to increase community member understanding of their local environments and activate potential environmental improvements. In this first-generation project, we developed a methodology to integrate geospatial technology with biometric sensing within a previously developed, evidence-based "citizen science" protocol, called "Our Voice." Participants used a smartphone/tablet-based application, called the Discovery Tool (DT), to collect photos and audio narratives about elements of the built environment that contributed to or detracted from their well-being. A wrist-worn sensor (Empatica E4) was used to collect time-stamped data, including 3-axis accelerometry, skin temperature, blood volume pressure, heart rate, heartbeat inter-beat interval, and electrodermal activity (EDA). Open-source R packages were employed to automatically organize, clean, geocode, and visualize the biometric data. RESULTS In total, 14 adults (8 women, 6 men) were successfully recruited to participate in the investigation. Participants recorded 174 images and 124 audio files with the DT. Among captured images with a participant-determined positive or negative rating (n = 131), over half were positive (58.8%, n = 77). Within-participant positive/negative rating ratios were similar, with most participants rating 53.0% of their images as positive (SD 21.4%). Significant spatial clusters of positive and negative photos were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* local statistic, and significant associations between participant EDA and distance to DT photos, and street and land use characteristics were also observed with linear mixed models. Interactive data maps allowed participants to (1) reflect on data collected during the neighborhood walk, (2) see how EDA levels changed over the course of the walk in relation to objective neighborhood features (using basemap and DT app photos), and (3) compare their data to other participants along the same route. CONCLUSIONS Participants identified a variety of social and environmental features that contributed to or detracted from their well-being. This initial investigation sets the stage for further research combining qualitative and quantitative data capture and interpretation to identify objective and perceived elements of the built environment influence our embodied experience in different settings. It provides a systematic process for simultaneously collecting multiple kinds of data, and lays a foundation for future statistical and spatial analyses in addition to more in-depth interpretation of how these responses vary within and between individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W Chrisinger
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, 1070 Arastradero Road, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
| | - Abby C King
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, 1070 Arastradero Road, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.,Department of Health Research and Policy, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA
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