Journal article
Investigating Suspected Cancer Clusters and Responding to Community Concerns: Guidelines from CDC and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
MMWR. Recommendations and reports, v 62(8), pp 1-24
27 Sep 2013
PMID: 24067663
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
This report augments guidelines published in 1990 for investigating clusters of health events (CDC. Guidelines for investigating clusters of health events.MMWR1990;39[No. RR-11]). The 1990 Guidelines considered any noninfectious disease cluster, injuries, birth defects, and previously unrecognized syndromes or illnesses. These new guidelines focus on cancer clusters. State and local health departments can use these guidelines to develop a systematic approach to responding to community concerns regarding cancer clusters. The guidelines are intended to apply to situations in which a health department responds to an inquiry about a suspected cancer cluster in a residential or community setting only. Occupational or medical treatment-related clusters are not included in this report. Since 1990, many improvements have occurred in data resources, investigative techniques, and analytic/statistical methods, and much has been learned from both large- and small-scale cancer cluster investigations. These improvements and lessons have informed these updated guidelines.
These guidelines utilize a four-step approach (initial response, assessment, major feasibility study, and etiologic investigation) as a tool for managing a reported cluster. Even if a cancer cluster is identified, there is no guarantee that a common cause or an environmental contaminant will be implicated. Identification of a common cause or an implicated contaminant might be an expected outcome for the concerned community. Therefore, during all parts of an inquiry, responders should be transparent, communicate clearly, and explain their decisions to the community.
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Details
- Title
- Investigating Suspected Cancer Clusters and Responding to Community Concerns
- Creators
- Beth (Vivi) Abrams - National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, GeorgiaHenry Anderson - Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesCarina Blackmore - Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FloridaFrank J. Bove - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease RegistrySuzanne K. Condon - Massachusetts Department of Public HealthChristie R. Eheman - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionJerald Fagliano - New Jersey Department of HealthLorena Barck Haynes - Haynes Ross Strategic, Seattle, WashingtonLauren S. Lewis - National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, GeorgiaJennifer Major - Haynes Ross Strategic, Seattle, WashingtonMichael A. McGeehin - RTI InternationalErin Simms - Council of State and Territorial EpidemiologistsKanta Sircar - National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, GeorgiaJohn Soler - Minnesota Department of HealthMartha Stanbury - Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, MichiganSharon M. Watkins - Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FloridaDaniel Wartenberg - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New JerseyNational Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
- Publication Details
- MMWR. Recommendations and reports, v 62(8), pp 1-24
- Publisher
- Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (proposed), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000326236300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84888985863
- Other Identifier
- 991021871326204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health