KU Medical Center Hand Delivers Second Round

of Health Questionnaires in Fredonia

 KANSAS CITY, KAN. — Members of The University of Kansas Medical Center’s Southeast Kansas Health Study team hand deliver a second round of health questionnaires to all households in the city of Fredonia on Friday, October 22.  The questionnaires are a critical component of the Southeast Kansas Health Study, which was commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is being conducted by KU Medical Center.  The study is directed at investigating possible health effects related to the operation of four commercial hazardous waste burners and other sources of emissions located in southeast Kansas.

“This second distribution of the health survey is being carried out in an effort to reach the goal of 500 completed and returned questionnaires from Fredonia households,” notes H. William Barkman, M.D., the study’s principal investigator and director of the Center for Environmental and Occupational Health at KU Medical Center.  “That number is important in terms of the power of the study,” Barkman stresses.  “We hope that everyone who has not already done so will complete and return their surveys to us with the appropriate signed consent forms.”

The questionnaire packets are being hand delivered in Fredonia because of problems related to the accuracy of addresses on mailing lists. Hand delivery will ensure that all households in the city receive a questionnaire.

The health questionnaires are directed at obtaining information on the frequency of respiratory disease and cancer in the communities involved in the study.  Other study communities include Chanute, Coffeyville, Independence, and Sedan, which is the control community.  

Barkman reports that the other study communities will receive a second mailing of the questionnaires beginning in about two weeks.   “Although we had a pretty good response to our first mailing, we have fallen short of the 500 completed questionnaires we need from each community.  We hope that with this second mailing, we will be able to reach our goal,” he says.

Individuals who have questions or concerns about the questionnaires or the Southeast Kansas Health Study can call the toll-free number, 877-511-2167 (for Kansas residents only), at KU Medical Center to speak directly with project staff.  The number is staffed from 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The number also has voice mail so that messages can be left after hours and when the line is busy.   Callers are urged to remember to leave their name and telephone number so that calls can be returned.

The Southeast Kansas Health Study staff can be reached by mail at the Center for Environmental and Occupational Health, 1034 Breidenthal Building, KU Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas 66160-7417.

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