Stop and listen to the people: an enhanced approach to cancer cluster investigations.
Cancer cluster investigations need to address the disconnect between traditional public health approaches and human needs. Cancer cluster investigations often magnify fear and uncertainty because they rarely find a definitive environmental cause. Traditional approaches emphasize population-level data analysis and undervalue active listening. Because few studies have explored active listening in cancer cluster investigations, we conducted a descriptive oral history case study of a Frederick, Maryland, investigation. We interviewed 12 community members and 9 public health professionals about the investigation of a perceived cancer cluster. Many believed it was linked to environmental contamination at Fort Detrick, a local US Army base. We propose enhanced active listening that seeks out peoples' perspectives, validates their concerns, and engages them in the investigative process.
Brian W. Simpson is with the Office of Communications, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. Patti Truant and Beth A. Resnick are with the Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Brian W
BW
Simpson
Patti
P
Truant
Beth A
BA
Resnick
D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003142:Communication; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States