Application of handheld devices to field research among underserved construction worker populations: a workplace health assessment pilot study

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Environ Health
• Personal Author:
  Caban-Martinez, Alberto J. ; Clarke, Tainya C. ; Davila, Evelyn P. ; Fleming, Lora E. ; Lee, David J.
• Description:
  Background
  
  Novel low-cost approaches for conducting rapid health assessments and health promotion interventions among underserved worker groups are needed. Recruitment and participation of construction workers is particularly challenging due to their often transient periods of work at any one construction site, and their limited time during work to participate in such studies. In the present methodology report, we discuss the experience, advantages and disadvantages of using touch screen handheld devices for the collection of field data from a largely underserved worker population.
  
  Methods
  
  In March 2010, a workplace-centered pilot study to examine the feasibility of using a handheld personal device for the rapid health assessment of construction workers in two South Florida Construction sites was undertaken. A 45-item survey instrument, including health-related questions on tobacco exposure, workplace safety practices, musculoskeletal disorders and health symptoms, was programmed onto Apple iPod Touch® devices. Language sensitive (English and Spanish) recruitment scripts, verbal consent forms, and survey questions were all preloaded onto the handheld devices. The experience (time to survey administration and capital cost) of the handheld administration method was recorded and compared to approaches available in the extant literature.
  
  Results
  
  Construction workers were very receptive to the recruitment, interview and assessment processes conducted through the handheld devices. Some workers even welcomed the opportunity to complete the questionnaire themselves using the touch screen handheld device. A list of advantages and disadvantages emerged from this experience that may be useful in the rapid health assessment of underserved populations working in a variety of environmental and occupational health settings.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Handheld devices, which are relatively inexpensive, minimize survey response error, and allow for easy storage of data. These technological research modalities are useful in the collection and assessment of environmental and occupational research data.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Computers, Handheld Facility Design And Construction Humans Interviews As Topic Occupational Health Pilot Projects Questionnaires Research Design Workplace
• Source:
  Environ Health. 2011; 10:27.
• Pubmed ID:
  21453552
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC3078837
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  F31AR057687/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OH003915/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Florida
• Volume:
  10
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:054fbc1008c23ba6e30f42a699e41ac2bffb70f6f07271e466202dfb4a2a41dd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/22822/cdc_22822_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 599.12 KB ]