Lessons learned from data collection as health screening in underserved farmworker communities

Abstract

Background: Girasoles is an academic–community partnership investigating heat-related illness (HRI) among farmworkers. 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.