Embracing formative research and partnership opportunities to develop tailored health communication interventions for the mining industry.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cecala, Andrew B. ; Haas, Emily J. ; Willmer D
• Description:
  The use of formative research as a critical component of intervention planning is highly supported in the literature, but studies that report such processes in practice are minimal. This essay reports on the formative data collection and analysis that informed the development of a multilevel intervention that utilizes mine control technology to bridge health communication between workers and management to reduce mineworkers' overexposure to respirable silica dust. This formative research included stakeholder meetings and feedback, mine visits and observations, interviews conducted with mineworkers, and a focus group conducted with mine management. Data collection took place at several U.S. industrial mineral mine sites and at a southeastern U.S. regional safety meeting. Interviews inquired about workers' perceived susceptibility and severity to respirable silica exposure, barriers to preventing overexposure, behaviors that reduce exposure, and perceptions about dust monitoring technology. A focus group discussed mine stakeholders' uses of dust control technology. The data were analyzed and coded qualitatively for each target audience using thematic and theoretical analysis. Recurring themes were found for both audiences that informed the development of a mixed-methods multilevel intervention to improve communication quantity and quality around dust control practices. Results indicate that formative research is critical to developing an intervention that meets target audience needs, representing accurately the health problem, and developing positive relationships with research partners and stakeholders. The process detailed throughout this essay provides not only a more reliable approach to intervention development by adhering to best practices in the literature, but also illustrates how to begin solving the persistent problem of translating research findings to practice. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Dust Environmental Exposure Minerals Mining Occupational Health Respiratory Protective Devices Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Silicon Dioxide Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Behavioral Intervention; Dust Control Technology; Formative Research; Mine Health And Safety; Public Health; Risk Communication Risk Factors; Environmental Exposure; Mine Safety; Mining; Mining Industry; Exposure Levels; Risk Factors; Respiratory Protection; Silica; Silica Dusts; Dusts; Dust Exposure; Mine Workers; Miners; Workers; Work Environment; Minerals; Behavior; Monitoring Systems;
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  National Communication Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-35
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048263
• Citation:
  National Communication Association's 101st Annual Convention, Health Communication Division, November 19-22, 2015, Las Vegas, Nevada. Washington, DC: National Communication Association, 2015 Nov; :1-35
• Contact Point Address:
  Emily Joy Haas, PhD, Behavioral Research Scientist, Human Factors, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, PO Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Email:
  EJHaas@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  National Communication Association's 101st Annual Convention, Health Communication Division, November 19-22, 2015, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/238086/cdc_238086_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]