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Citation
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Flocks J, Tovar JA, Economos E, Thien Mac VV, Mutic A, Peterman K, McCauley L. Prog. Community Health Partnersh. 2018; 12(1S): 93-100. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Girasoles is an academic-community partnership investigating heat-related illness (HRI) among farm-workers. An unexpected outcome is health screening and intervention for participants without access to health care.
OBJECTIVES: We present a case of renal failure in a farmworker, detected during data collection, to illustrate how academic-community collaboration can result in clinical benefits for study participants.
METHODS: Girasoles is examining physiologic responses to heat stress, associated vulnerability factors, and HRI symptoms. Data include blood pressure, fasting and non-fasting blood glucose, blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urine dipsticks. Participants with out-of-range findings are referred to local health care providers.
RESULTS: During two summers, health screenings of 192 workers resulted in 71 referrals (37%) for conditions to be rechecked and treated. One of these referrals involved chronic renal failure requiring extensive follow-up by research team members.
CONCLUSIONS: The case of renal failure illustrates the value of collaborative research as a health intervention with vulnerable populations.
Language: en |