Form 0923-0048 Household Recruitment Script

Appendix A.2 Telephone Scripts for Eligibility Screening and Recruitment

Form Approved

OMB No. 0923-0048

Exp Date 4/30/2022

A.2.1 Eligibility Script when participants call to make an appointment for sampling

PFAS Environmental Sampling at EA Sites

Household Recruitment Script

ATSDR estimates the average public reporting burden for this collection of information as 10 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data/information sources, gathering and maintaining the data/information needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to CDC/ATSDR Information Collection Review Office, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D-74, Atlanta, Georgia 30333; ATTN: PRA (0923-0048).

Reading Level: 9.2

Note: A recruitment letter was sent to EA participants in MA and DE. Participants were instructed to call if they are interested in the environmental sampling. All participants are eligible for the indoor dust sampling and questionnaire completion only. As participants call, they will be offered the additional sampling using the following script.

Hello, I am ______________________ from [insert affiliation], answering on behalf of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Thank you for calling regarding the environmental sampling to be done in your community.

Your household participated in the Exposure Assessment that was completed in the fall of 2019 and, as your letter indicated, we are conducting additional environmental sampling in your community for PFAS.

If you agree to participate, a dust sample and questionnaires will be completed for all people in your home that provided a blood sample for the exposure assessment so we can look at non-drinking water sources of PFAS. This sampling will take one appointment that will last about an hour. You may also be interested in having the additional sampling that was outlined in the letter, along with the questionnaires. The additional sampling will take two sampling appointments, about 2 hours each, one week apart.

The sampling will be conducted between XX and XX. Which sampling are you interested in (say both options and let them choose)?

1. One appointment with the dust sampling and questionnaires only, or

2. Two appointments with the dust and additional sampling along with the questionnaires

• If they say they are interested in the dust sampling only, say “Thank you! Let’s go ahead and make that appointment for you.”

• If they say they are interested in the additional sampling, say ”Great – but we need to just ask you a few questions to make sure we can collect the samples we need at your home.”

1. Are you willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to sample indoor air, dust and soil at your home during two separate 2- hour appointments, one week apart?

2. Are you willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to set up an air sampling device in your home for a week to collect an indoor air sample? The air sampling equipment may make some noise. The noise will be similar to a household refrigerator.

3. Do you have a yard and are you willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to sample soil from it? The sampling will leave holes in your lawn. The holes will be approximately 2 inches in diameter.

4. Is your yard at least 1500 square feet?

5. Do you have a vacuum cleaner (bagged or bagless) that you are willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to sample?

6. Are you or someone in your household willing to wear several silicone wristbands for a week? If they answer “no” to any of the questions:

Say “Sorry, we need to be able to collect all the samples at the homes we choose. Would you like us to come and take a dust sample only and complete the questionnaires in one appointment?”

• If they agree to the dust sampling, make an appointment, and thank them for participating. Tell them they will receive an appointment verification letter and a reminder phone call before their appointment.

• If they do not agree to the dust sampling only, say “That’s fine. Thank you again for being part of the Exposure Assessment – have a great day.”

If they answer “yes” to all of the questions:

• Make two appointments for them one week apart and thank them for participating. Tell them they will receive an appointment verification letter and a reminder phone call before their appointments.

When the appointment(s) is made, ask the person “How many people live in your home that provided blood samples during the EA and what are their ages?” Record the number of people and their age and let them know that we will be sending them appropriate consent forms and questionnaires to complete with the appointment verification letter.

SKIP TO THE COVID SECTION BELOW

AFTER THE 20 ADDITIONAL SAMPLING APPOINTMENTS ARE FILLED, USE THE SCRIPT BELOW

Hello, I am ______________________ from [insert affiliation], answering on behalf of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Thank you for calling regarding the environmental sampling to be done in your community.

Your household participated in the Exposure Assessment that was completed in the fall of 2019 and, as your letter indicated, we are conducting additional environmental sampling in your community for PFAS.

All households are eligible to have a dust sample collected and to have questionnaires completed for all people in your home that provided a blood sample in the Exposure Assessment so we can look at non-drinking water sources of PFAS. This sampling will take one appointment that will last about an hour.

The letter provided information on sampling we would do in addition to the dust sampling and questionnaire at some households. Unfortunately, all those appointments have been filled, but you are invited to have the dust sampling and questionnaires completed in your home.

.

The sampling will be conducted between XX and XX. Are you interested in participating?

If they say “yes”, say “Great! Let’s make an appointment for you.” Tell them they will receive an appointment verification letter and an appointment reminder call before the sampling.

If they say “no”, say “That’s fine. Thank you again for participating in the Exposure Assessment – have a great day.”

After the appointment(s) are made, say the following: CDC/ ATSDR will take COVID-19 prevention measures at every step of our work in your community. Would you like me to tell you about those?

If the resident says “no”, move on with the script.

If the resident says “yes”, tell them the following:

The sampling will be conducted following all state, local, and CDC guidelines in place at the time the sampling is conducted. Sampling team members will be monitored twice daily for fever and any COVID-19-related symptoms and will wear surgical masks and gloves to ensure the protection of participants. Participants will be monitored for fever and COVID-19-related symptoms prior to CDC/ATSDR staff entering the home. Participants will be asked to always wear a face covering or mask when interacting with sampling personnel. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you before we enter your home. If you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, please let us know and accommodations will be made.

A.2.2 Recruitment and Eligibility Script when additional participants needed at a site

Form Approved

OMB No. 0923-0048

Exp Date 4/30/2022

PFAS Environmental Sampling at EA Sites

Household Recruitment Script

ATSDR estimates the average public reporting burden for this collection of information as 10 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data/information sources, gathering and maintaining the data/information needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to CDC/ATSDR Information Collection Review Office, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D-74, Atlanta, Georgia 30333; ATTN: PRA (0923-0048).

Reading Level: 8.6

Note: A recruitment letter was sent to EA participants in MA and DE. Participants were instructed to call in if they are interested in the environmental sampling. All participants are eligible for the indoor dust sampling and questionnaire completion only. If all slots are not filled by participants calling in response to the recruitment letter, CDC/ATSDR will call them and they will be offered the additional sampling using the following script.

Hello, I am ______________________ from [insert affiliation], calling on behalf of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Your household participated in the CDC/ATSDR Exposure Assessment that was completed in the fall of 2019. You should have a received a letter in the mail inviting your household to participate in additional environmental sampling at the homes EA participants. I’m calling today to see if you’d like to enroll in the investigation.

All households are eligible to have a dust sample collected and to have a questionnaire completed by all people in the home that provided a blood sample during the exposure assessment so we can look at non-drinking water sources of PFAS. This sampling will take one appointment that will last about an hour. You may also be interested in having the additional sampling outlined in the letter along with the questionnaires. The additional sampling will take two sampling appointments, about 2 hours each, one week apart.

The sampling will take place between XX and XX. Are you interested in either of the samplings (say both options and let them choose)?

1. One appointment with the dust sampling and questionnaires only, or

2. Two appointments with the dust and additional sampling and questionnaires

• If they say they are not interested in any sampling, say “That’s fine. Thank you again for being part of the Exposure Assessment – have a great day.”

• If they say they are interested in the dust sampling only, say “Thank you! Let’s go ahead and make that appointment for you.” Tell them they will receive an appointment verification letter and a reminder phone call before their appointment.

• If they say they are interested in the additional sampling, say ”Great – but we need to just ask you a few questions to make sure we can collect the samples we need at your home.”

1. Are you willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to sample indoor air, dust, and soil at your home during two separate 2- hour appointments, one week apart?

2. Are you willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to set up an air sampling device in your home for a week to collect an indoor air sample? The air sampling equipment may make some noise.

3. Do you have a yard and are you willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to sample soil from it? The sampling will leave holes in your lawn.

4. Is your yard at least 1500 square feet?

5. Do you have a vacuum cleaner (bagged or bagless) that you are willing to allow CDC/ATSDR to sample?

6. Are you or someone from your household willing to wear several silicone wristbands for a week?

If they answer “no” to any of the questions:

Say “Sorry, we need to be able to collect all the samples at the homes we choose. Would you like us to come and take a dust sample only and complete the questionnaires in one appointment?”

• If they agree to the dust sampling, make an appointment, and thank them for participating. Tell them they will receive a reminder phone call the day before their appointment.

• If they do not agree to the dust sampling only, say “That’s fine. Thank you again for being part of the Exposure Assessment – have a great day.”

If they answer “yes” to all of the questions:

Make two appointments for them one week apart and thank them for participating. Tell them they will receive an appointment verification letter and a reminder phone call before their appointments.

When the appointment(s) is made, ask the person “How many people live in your home that provided blood samples during the EA and what are their ages?” Record the number of people and their age and let them know that we will be sending them appropriate consent forms and questionnaires to complete with the appointment verification letter.

SKIP TO COVID SECTION BELOW

IF WE ONLY NEED THE DUST ONLY APPOINTMENTS FILLED

Hello, I am ______________________ from [insert affiliation], calling on behalf of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Your household participated in the CDC/ATSDR Exposure Assessment that was completed in the fall of 2019. You should have a received a letter in the mail inviting your household to participate in additional environmental sampling at the homes EA participants. I’m calling today to see if you’d like to enroll in the investigation.

All households are eligible to have a dust sample collected and to have a questionnaire completed for all people in your home that provided a blood sample for the exposure assessment so we can look at non-drinking water sources of PFAS. This sampling will take one appointment that will last about an hour.

The letter provided information on sampling we would do in addition to the dust sampling and questionnaire at some households. Unfortunately, all those appointments have been filled, but you are invited to have the dust sampling and questionnaires completed in your home.

The sampling will take place between XX and XX. Are you interested in being included in the sampling?

If they say “yes”, say “Great! Let’s make an appointment for you. You will receive a reminder call the day before your appointment.”

If they say “no”, say “That’s fine. Thank you for being part of the PFAS EA – have a great day.”

When the appointment(s) is made, ask the person “How many people live in your home that provided blood samples during the EA and what are their ages?” Record the number of people and their age and let them know that we will be sending them appropriate consent forms and questionnaires to complete with the appointment verification letter.

After the appointment(s) are made, say the following:

CDC/ATSDR will take COVID-19 prevention measures at every step of our work in your community. Would you like me to tell you about those?

If the resident says “no”, move on with the script.

If the resident says “yes”, tell them the following:

The sampling will be conducted following all state, local, and CDC guidelines in place at the time the sampling is conducted. Sampling team members will be monitored twice daily for fever and any COVID-19-related symptoms and will wear surgical masks and gloves to ensure the protection of participants. Participants will be monitored for fever and COVID-19-related symptoms prior to CDC/ATSDR staff entering the home. Participants will be asked to always wear a face covering or mask when interacting with sampling personnel. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you before we enter your home. If you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, please let us know and accommodations will be made.