Communicating Results of a Dietary Exposure Study Following Consumption of Traditionally Smoked Salmon

Abstract

One expectation of community-based participatory research (CBPR) is participant access to study results. However, reporting experimental data produced by studies involving biological measurements in the absence of clinical relevance can be challenging to scientists and participants. We applied best practices in data sharing to report the results of a study designed to explore polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons absorption, metabolism, and excretion following consumption of traditionally smoked salmon by members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). A dietary exposure study was developed, in which nine Tribal members consumed 50 g of traditionally smoked salmon and provided repeated urine samples over 24 hours. During recruitment, participants requested access to their data following analysis. Disclosing data is an important element of CBPR and must be treated with the same rigor as that given to the data analysis. The field of data disclosure is relatively new, but when handled correctly can improve education within the community, reduce distrust, and enhance environmental health literacy. Using the results from this study, we suggest mechanisms for sharing data with a Tribal community.

FIG. 1.

A graphical legend was provided to illustrate how the data were graphed and to aid interpretation of results.

FIG. 2.

Example of how aggregate results were presented. (A) Example graph showing sum PAH concentration over the 24-hour study period. Sum OH-PAHs were also presented in the same format. (B) The grey line depicts the individual's results; the black lines represent the results of the other eight participants. Sum OH-PAHs were presented in the same format. PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.