KU Medical Center Delivers Southeast Kansas Health Study Final Protocol

 to Libraries in Chanute, Coffeyville, Fredonia, Independence, and Sedan.

Community residents will have an opportunity to review and comment on how study is carried out.

The protocol details how researchers will carry out the health study, which is directed at looking for possible health effects related to the operation of four commercial hazardous waste burners and other sources of environmental emissions in the area.

Community involvement in the design and performance of the study is a major objective of this important project.  “During the past nine months, our researchers have held stakeholder and information meetings in each of the study communities and Sedan, which is the study’s control town,” Barkman said.  “At those meetings, we presented the draft protocol and solicited comments and information from residents and stakeholders who were there.  We have tried, where possible, to incorporate their suggestions into this final protocol,“ he continued.

The two-and-one-half-year study, which began September of 1997, has three parts:  1) a respiratory health survey and medical evaluation, 2) an investigation of cancer incidence and mortality rates in the area, and 3) an air sampling and analysis study.   The health survey and medical evaluation are key to the project’s respiratory health component.  Later this fall, about 2,500 households in the communities of Chanute, Independence, and Coffeyville will be sent respiratory health questionnaires.  For the communities of Fredonia and Sedan, all households in the communities will be sent questionnaires.

“Community residents and other stakeholders will be asked to review the study’s final protocol over a period of five or six weeks,” Barkman reported.  “At the end of that time, our researchers will hold another public meeting in one of the study communities so that interested individuals will have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments on the protocol,” he said.

Residents and stakeholders who wish to comment personally and privately to study researchers about the protocol may do so by using a toll-free number KU Medical Center has installed specifically for the Southeast Kansas Health Study.  The number is 877/511-2167.  It is a direct line to the project offices located at the Medical Center and is answered by project staff between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.   The number has voice mail so that after hours and on weekends individuals can leave messages with suggestions or comments.  Residents and stakeholders may also comment to researchers through E-mail or by writing to us.  Our E-mail address is mwalker3@kumc.edu.  Our mailing address is

Center for Environmental and Occupational Health

Attn.: Mary G. Walker

1033 Breidenthal Building

The University of Kansas Medical Center

3901 Rainbow Boulevard

Kansas City, Kansas 66160-7417

Our new web site address is http://www2.kumc.edu/gsr/ceoh/skhs.

The Southeast Kansas Health Study is a collaborative effort among researchers from KU Medical Center and the University of Kansas. John S. Neuberger, DrPH, KU Medical Center’s Department of Prevent Medicine, leads the cancer incidence and mortality rates investigation.  Dennis D. Lane, Ph.D., KU’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, leads the air sampling and analysis study, and Barkman leads the respiratory health study.

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