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<p>This integrated research and extension project will develop, implement and evaluate safe food handling messages for raw poultry and eggs tailored to maximize effectiveness within targeted minority racial/ethnic populations. The project's overall goal will be accomplished by </p>
<p>1) conducting focus groups and surveys to critically analyze consumer food handling practices of minority racial/ethnic populations with respect to raw poultry and eggs, </p>
<p>2) developing educational materials for consumers based on risks identified in initial focus groups and surveys, </p>
<p>3) Implementing the dissemination of the educational materials through a pilot study conducted in the urban Philadelphia area and </p>
<p>4) Evaluating the effectiveness of the educational materials through both pre- and post- implementation surveys as well as post-implementation focus groups. </p>
<p>Successful completion of this project will result in the availability of food safety education materials targeted toward urban minority populations which would have the potential to be disseminated and utilized in other urban and/or minority populations.</p>
<p>APPROACH:<br/> Focus groups will be conducted to identify potential differences in handling of raw poultry and egg products among populations of different demographics. Based on focus group input, phone surveys will be conducted to determine prevalence of mishandling of poultry and egg products among populations of minority racial and ethnic background. Findings from focus groups and surveys will be used to develop culturally appropriate safe food handling messages. The effectiveness of the educational materials developed will be determined using pre- and post- education campaign surveys to determine if there is an increase in knowledge of safe food handling practices following exposure to the education campaign.
PROGRESS: 2010/09 TO 2011/08OUTPUTS: Focus groups were conducted with consumers of different racial and ethnic backgrounds (African American, Hispanic and Asian) to determine identify potential unique food safety handling risks or behaviors to inform and modify a larger survey to be developed. The results of these focus groups were disseminated through a poster presentation at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. A modified Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior Survey was developed using an existing survey developed and administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and modifying the survey based on unique themes which emerged from our focus groups with minority consumers. The modified survey is in the process of being administered by phone to an equal number each of Caucasian, African American, Hispanic and Asian
Consumers. PARTICIPANTS: The P.I., Jennifer Quinlan and the Co-P.I. Susan Stein both mentored and assisted the graduate student, Shauna Henley with the recruitment for and running of 9 focus groups in the community. All three researchers also had input into the development of the modified food safety survey based on results and emergent themes from the focus groups. Ms. Henley also developed and defended her Ph.D. research proposal and passed her Ph.D. Candidacy exam to become a Ph.D. candidate in the Dept. of Biology, Drexel University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
<p>PROGRESS: 2009/09/01 TO 2010/08/31<br/>OUTPUTS: Community groups were identified to perform focus groups to assess food safety knowledge and unique cultural issues for food safety risks among Asian, Hispanic and African American populations, particularly those in low socioeconomic areas with limited resources. Focus group question routes as well as baseline surveys were developed. Meetings were conducted with Co-PI's in New Mexico who will ultimately develop education materials to ensure that appropriate information is obtained to assist in message delivery. PARTICIPANTS: Jennifer Quinlan made community contacts to develop relationships with organizations in order to conduct focus groups as well as recruited and mentored the Ph.D. student who is working on the project. Susan Stein assisted in mentoring the Ph.D. student and providing professional guidance for
appropriate focus group methodology. Shauna Henley made community contacts and developed relationships to conduct focus groups in local communities as well as developed focus group questioning routes and baseline survey. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A delay in the progress of the project was experienced in order to recruit Ms. Henley for her Ph.D. project on this research. Because her unique background and previous research fit the project very well it was determined that progress on the project, and therefore expenditures on the project would be better delayed in order to have the best available personnel.