Environmental Health Knowledge Research Articles

The Primary Care and Environmental Health e-Learning Course to Integrate Environmental Health in General Practice: Before-and-After Feasibility Study.

Environmental and behavioral factors are responsible for 12.6 million deaths annually and contribute to 25% of deaths and chronic diseases worldwide. Through the One Health initiative, the World Health Organization and other international health organizations plan to improve these indicators to create healthier environments by 2030. To meet this challenge, training primary care professionals should be the priority of national policies. General practitioners (GPs) are ready to become involved but need in-depth training to gain and apply environmental health (EH) knowledge to their practice. In response, we designed the Primary Care Environment and Health (PCEH) online course in partnership with the Occitanie Regional Health Agency in France. This course was used to train GP residents from the Montpelier-Nimes Faculty of Medicine in EH knowledge. The course was organized in 2 successive parts: (1) an asynchronous e-learning modular course focusing on EH knowledge and tools and (2) 1 day of face-to-face sessions. This study assessed the impact of the e-learning component of the PCEH course on participants' satisfaction, knowledge, and behavior changes toward EH. This was a pilot before-and-after study. Four modules were available in the 6-hour e-learning course: introduction to EH, population-based approach (mapping tools and resources), clinical cases, and communication tools. From August to September 2021, we recruited first-year GP residents from the University of Montpellier (N=130). Participants' satisfaction, knowledge improvements for 19 EH risks, procedure to report EH risks to health authorities online, and behavior change (to consider the possible effects of the environment on their own and their patients' health) were assessed using self-reported questionnaires on a Likert scale (1-5). Paired Student t tests and the McNemar χ2 test were used to compare quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively, before and after the course. A total of 74 GP residents completed the e-learning and answered the pre- and posttest questionnaires. The mean satisfaction score was 4.0 (SD 0.9) out of 5. Knowledge scores of EH risks increased significantly after the e-learning course, with a mean difference of 30% (P<.001) for all items. Behavioral scores improved significantly by 18% for the participant's health and by 26% for patients' health (P<.001). These improvements did not vary significantly according to participant characteristics (eg, sex, children, place of work). The e-learning course improved knowledge and behavior related to EH. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of the PCEH course on clinical practice and potential benefits for patients. This course was designed to serve as a knowledge base that could be reused each year with a view toward sustainability. This course will integrate new modules and will be adapted to the evolution of EH status indicators and target population needs.

Leveraging small island context to advance and disseminate environmental health and sustainable development knowledge through higher education

Higher education curricula can be designed to effectively leverage the context of small island states to enhance and deliver sustainable development and environmental health education, catering to workforce development, citizenry, and inclusivity. Small islands and developing states, in particular, are left behind in recognizing and promoting the linkages between environmentally sustainable development and the health of its people. This community case study highlights strategies of a Caribbean-based higher learning institution, leveraging the context of a small island state, to close this gap and create equitable access to integrated sustainable development and environmental health education. Tenets of Education for Sustainable Development theory underpin the pedagogical methodologies used in the delivery of the academic program. The curriculum draws on experiential learning, competency-based education, and diversity and inclusion, oriented to active student–student and student-practitioner engagements. Learning is facilitated through the effective dissemination of information, healthy interactions within a diverse community, professional engagements with multi-disciplinary practitioners, problem-solving, and formulation and presentation of perspectives and experiences relating to the Sustainable Development Agenda and Goals. Highly engaging and inclusive academic processes can accentuate students transitioning into the role of teachers, environmentally conscious leaders and citizens, and competent public health practitioners for the local and global workforces.

Assessment of Undergraduate Students’ Environmental Health Knowledge and Practices

The knowledge of anyone about the environment will be the basis in determining how he/she acts regarding environmental hazards. With environmental health been promoted, threats subsist mainly because of individual’s behavior and practices in reaction to likely health hazards. This study aims at assessing University of Abuja undergraduate students' (those living outside the school hostel) level of knowledge and associated practices of environmental health with their day-to-day activities. The data for the study was collected using 3 sections (demographic attribute, Knowledge of the Students about the Environment and Environment Practices by the Students) well-structured questionnaire. The findings shows that participants lack general knowledge concerning environmental health-related challenges. The male gender scores (M=69.91, SD=9.9) and Female (M=70.31, SD=10.3) were found not to be significant, t(238) = -0.309, p &gt; 0.05 with their environmental health knowledge. The interconnection between environment knowledge and practices shares a positive correlation between them (r = 0.206, n = 240, p =0 .05) and statistically significant. It could be submitted that the undergraduate students in this study do not have much knowledge about the environment. Since knowledge influence an individual’s style and practice, persisting efforts and dedication in environmental health education ought to be more pronounce and reflect identified environmental health practices and ways to improve

Environmental health knowledge and competences in Basque health workers. A comparison of different professional profiles

Environmental exposures are responsible for a quarter of morbidity and mortality rates globally. Primary care professionals work in a privileged position to detect and intervene on environmental health matters. Nevertheless, due to lack of specific training, international literature shows that primary care health professionals have limited skills to deal with those. The objectives of this study were to assess the levels of environmental health (EH) knowledge and competence of a sample of 446 health professionals and students in the Basque Country and explore the presence that EH has on their daily practice. Only a very small proportion of participants had received training and took environmental clinical history regularly. Participants were confident to deal, and actually dealt, with tobacco, pollen and sun exposures but less able to address topics like biomarkers, pesticides and endocrine disruptors. Finally, and in accordance to previous works, we found moderate levels of EH knowledge and skills in our sample, and observed that nurses and nursing students reported higher EH skills than other professional profiles but scored lower in knowledge. Despite the manifold impacts of environmental exposures on health, interventions to strengthen health professionals’ EH competence are required.

Aspek Kesehatan Lingkungan, Pengetahuan, dan Perilaku Warga dalam Menghadapi Pandemi COVID-19

Background: Based on COVID-19 data in Semarang City as of July 15, 2021, there were 2,048 confirmed positive cases and 5 positive cases were found in Sekaran Village. The purpose of the study was to describe the environmental health factors, knowledge and behavior of residents in preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic in Sekaran Village, Semarang City. Methods: The type of research is descriptive quantitative. The research subjects were 100 residents of Sekaran Village. The variables included spraying disinfectants, habit of washing hands with soap (WHWS), knowledge, use of masks, WHWS facilities, physical distancing and the habit of disposing of garbage. Instruments in the form of questionnaires and checklist sheets. The sampling technique used proportional random sampling. Data were analyzed using univariate test. Results: Results: Shows that the details of the level of community preparedness in facing a pandemic in the form of spraying disinfectants (20%), WHWS facilities (75%), knowledge (11%), use of masks (28%), WHWS habits (49%), physical distancing (64%), habit of throwing garbage (70%). Conclusion: The level of community preparedness is categorized as not ready, of 7 variables, there were 5 variables that were not ready, namely spraying disinfectants, knowledge, using masks, maintaining physical distance, and WHWS habits.

The Eyewitness Community Survey: An Engaging Citizen Science Tool to Capture Reliable Data while Improving Community Participants' Environmental Health Knowledge and Attitudes.

Many youths and young adults have variable environmental health knowledge, limited understanding of their local environment's impact on their health, and poor environmentally friendly behaviors. We sought to develop and test a tool to reliably capture data, increase environmental health knowledge, and engage youths as citizen scientists to examine and take action on their community's challenges. The Eyewitness Community Survey (ECS) was developed through several iterations of co-design. Herein, we tested its performance. In Phase I, seven youths audited five 360° photographs. In Phase II, 27 participants works as pairs/trios and audited five locations, typically 7 days apart. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were determined. Changes in participants' knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and self-efficacy were surveyed. Feedback was obtained via focus groups. Intra-rater reliability was in the substantial/near-perfect range, with Phase II having greater consistency. Inter-rater reliability was high, with 42% and 63% of Phase I and II Kappa, respectively, in the substantial/near-perfect range. Knowledge scores improved after making observations (p ≤ 0.032). Participants (85%) reported the tool to be easy/very easy to use, with 70% willing to use it again. Thus, the ECS is a mutually beneficial citizen science tool that rigorously captures environmental data and provides engaging experiential learning opportunities.

Environmental health knowledge of healthcare professionals: Instrument development and validation using the Rasch model

Introductionenvironmental risk factors constitute a major public health issue, calling for preventive actions and interventions at multiple levels. An important step in this direction is increasing the environmental health (EH) knowledge of the healthcare professionals. In this context, tools designed to measure such knowledge are of imperative importance. The aim of the present study was to develop an EH knowledge tool for healthcare professionals. Methodsa group of experts defined the knowledge areas of the EH tool and their corresponding items. An online pilot and a validation study were performed. Internal consistency reliability was measured with the Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20) estimate, the construct validity and uni-dimensionality of the tool were assessed with the Rasch model. Known-groups validity was analysed with the two-sample t-test. Resultsa total of n = 151 and n = 444 healthcare professionals and end-year medical and nursing students, participated in the pilot and the validation study, respectively. The resulting 33-item EH knowledge questionnaire for healthcare professionals (EHKQ-HP) obtained a KR-20 = 0.82. The scale is uni-dimensional. Its construct validity was verified, and its items cover a wide range of difficulties. Separation statistics were adequate and known-groups behaved as hypothesized. Conclusionsthe EHKQ-HP is a valuable resource for measuring the EH knowledge of the healthcare professionals. As such it will be useful in detecting EH knowledge gaps, and helping public health agents in making informed decisions when developing interventions for increasing this very knowledge. This would consequently help in improving the health of the general population.

Current practices addressing toxic chemical exposure and other environmental health risks during prenatal care: Results and implications of a Canada-wide survey of prenatal care providers

Prospective parents are increasingly aware of potential risks to pregnancy and child health posed by exposure to toxic chemicals. Expanding scientific research demonstrates the heightened vulnerability of the prenatal period to environmental toxicants, underscoring potential benefits of exposure reduction. To inform reduction strategies, the SOCG collaborated in a national survey to examine prenatal care providers’ environmental health knowledge, concerns, practices, and views on patient education opportunities and barriers.

Assessing hospitalists' opinions regarding the role of environmental health within the practice of hospital medicine.

Environmental health represents the concept that a stable climate and clean environment are fundamental prerequisites for good human health. Despite growing awareness of the impact of climate change more broadly, knowledge of environmental health has not fully entered mainstream medicine in the United States. To understand practicing hospitalists' perspectives regarding the current and future roles of environmental health within the practice of hospital medicine, as well as existing barriers and potential motivators to its further inclusion. We conducted virtual focus groups of practicing hospitalists in partnership with the Hospital Medicine Reengineering Network from across the United States. Structured interviews elicited hospitalists' thoughts pertaining to environmental health. Transcripts then underwent descriptive coding to identify and group comments into themes. We conducted three focus groups with a total of 14 physician participants. Four themes emerged: the negative environmental impact of the healthcare system, a lack of prioritization of environmental health within hospital medicine, the potential for expanding environmental health in nonclinical roles including medical education, and the importance of systems-level support. Environmental health is felt to be of importance, and while there exist avenues to do better, there is limited understanding of hospitalists' most effective role in making change.

WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF RURAL WOMEN SCHOOLS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS; THE CASE OF UMALQURA VILLAGE IN GEZIRA STATE, SUDAN

Rural Women Schools (RWS) has been advertised and adopted by many development agencies as an effective approach to build women’s capacities in developing countries. The Sudanese government adopted RWS to promote rural development and strengthen disadvantaged groups of women in many parts of the country. A program was implemented in Umalqura village in Gezira State to increase women’s level of knowledge in home economics, human health, environmental health and mitigation of bad habits. This study adopted a full count sampling method (census) to assess the level of women participation in the training activities and its relationship with some of the characteristics of the participant women. Data was collected by questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics methods. Socio-demographic background of the participating women reflects that majority of them were housewives lying in the age of 20-50 with primary and secondary education. Results show that, about two thirds of women participated in all implemented activities. However, project effectiveness, changes in knowledge and skills of the participating women were moderately and substantially correlated (r= .330 and .645 respectively) with the level of participation in the project activities. However, women with larger family size were less participating in the activities and therefore, they were less benefiting from the activities. Environmental awareness raising and frequency of participation in activities were positively correlated(r=.129). Income was positively correlated with participation in the RWS but with low correlation coefficient (r=.11). The study thus, concludes that RWS approach would give greater development impact if it will be widely adopted for development projects targeting women

Environmental Health Knowledge Does Not Necessarily Translate to Action in Youth.

Environmental challenges pose serious health problems, especially for children, and lay public action is lacking. This study sought to characterize the relationship between environmental health knowledge and behavior in youth. A cross-sectional, descriptive survey with quantitative and qualitative questions was conducted. Open-ended questions were coded to generate themes/subthemes. Subscales' scores were presented as mean ± SD or median and interquartile range (IQR). T- and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare groups, and correlations were used to evaluate covariation. A total of 452 children were surveyed. Youth verbalized concerns about their environments and their impact on health. Air pollution was the most concerning issue. Participants had moderate knowledge scores. Few described the three health domains; even fewer included environment. Behavior scores were low and weakly correlated with knowledge, but were moderately correlated with attitude and self-efficacy. Participation in environmental classes, activities, and clubs was associated with higher scores. We found variable environmental health knowledge, limited understanding of the local environment's impact on health, and a weak association between youth's knowledge and behavior. Focused formal and non-formal educational experiences were associated with improved scores, indicating the value of targeted youth educational programming to increase environmental health knowledge and action.

A Case Study on the Significance of the Explicit and Tacit Knowledge in Environmental Health: A Letter to the Editor on the "Pesticide Use Practice and Associated Factors Among Rural Community of Malga District, Sidama Regional State, South Ethiopia".

A Case Study on the Significance of the Explicit and Tacit Knowledge in Environmental Health: A Letter to the Editor on the "Pesticide Use Practice and Associated Factors Among Rural Community of Malga District, Sidama Regional State, South Ethiopia".

Status and related factors on knowledge, attitude and practice of adults environmental health in four cities in 2021

To investigate the current situation and related factors of adults environmental health knowledge-attitude-practice(KAP)in four cities. From March to April 2021, 1252 permanent residents in Mianyang City, Ya&apos;an City in Sichuan Province, Suzhou City and Yangzhou City in Jiangsu Province were investigated on environmental health KAP by using a self-made electronic questionnaire. Analysis of variance, multiple linear regression and Person rank correlation were used to analyze the difference of public environmental KAP level, related factors, and the correlation of knowledge, attitude and behavior scores. There were significant differences in the level of environmental health KAP among people in different cities(F=47.632, P&lt;0.001), age group(F=34.676, P&lt;0.001), education level(F=49.574, P&lt;0.001), BMI(F=4.560, P=0.003), total annual family income(F=27.977, P&lt;0.001), smoking status(t=11.121, P=0.001)and ways of ingesting environmental health knowledge(F=88.405, P&lt;0.001), and except BMI, other items were the related factors of environmental health KAP. The score of environmental health attitude was higher than that of behavior and knowledge(F=154.34, P&lt;0.001). The scores of knowledge and behavior, knowledge and attitude, attitude and behavior were correlated, and the correlation coefficients were 0.667, 0.414 and 0.450 respectively(P&lt;0.01). The number of ways to acquire environmental health knowledge, total annual family income, education level, age and smoking status are all related factors of the adults environmental knowledge-attitude-practice level in four cities in 2021.

FAKTOR RISIKO LINGKUNGAN TERHADAP KEJADIAN STUNTING PADA ANAK

One of the problems faced by children under the age of 5 years is stunting. The adverse impact of the condition is that it can be damaged or difficult to achieve optimal physical and cognitive development. Stunting is not only caused by a lack of nutritional intake but can be caused by various factors including environmental factors. Risk factors for the living environment and parental behavior are one of the factors that greatly determine the occurrence of stunting in children. The purpose of the study is to describe environmental risk factors related to stunting events in children under five and create strategies that can be used to deal with these problems. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method with a case study approach carried out in Sudiang Raya Village, Biring Kanaya District, Makassar City. Data collection is carried out by means of observation, in-depth interviews, and document tracking. Qualitative data analysis uses content analysis to discuss in depth the data and information collected. The results showed that low environmental health knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, poor water source conditions and environmental sanitation, and low levels of welfare are factors that trigger the onset of stunting in children.

“They Kept Going for Answers”: Knowledge, Capacity, and Environmental Health Literacy in Michigan’s PBB Contamination

The Michigan PBB Oral History Project documented community residents' descriptions of a large-scale chemical contamination-the PBB contamination-that occurred in Michigan in 1973. These oral histories document residents' and others' experiences during and after the contamination. We conducted a grounded theory qualitative analysis of 31 oral histories to examine the experiences of community members, researchers, lawyers, and others who actively sought out and contributed essential information about the contamination and its impacts. Our findings highlight several challenges encountered in the development of this knowledge including four central themes-contested knowledge, community skills, inaction, and uncertainty. Integrating environmental health literacy, community capacity, and contested illness frameworks, we examine the contributions of community residents, scientists (from inside and outside the community), and others to the development of knowledge to inform decisions and sustain action regarding this large-scale contamination. We close with a discussion of lessons learned regarding efforts to build environmental health knowledge within uncertain and often contested contexts and for promoting environmental health and action related to large-scale chemical contaminations. Our findings suggest the importance of integrated frameworks for examining and promoting the critical role of community skills, leadership, participation, sense of community, and community power in promoting environmental health.

Participatory environmental health research: A tool to explore the socio-exposome in a major european industrial zone

ObjectivesWe show that participatory research approaches can be a useful tool across disciplines and data collection methods to explore the socio-exposome near one of the largest industrial harbors in Europe. We analyzed resident involvement in each project and their capacity to affect structural changes. MethodsLongitudinal participatory environmental monitoring studies on lichens, petunias, aquatic systems and groundwater were conducted under the program VOCE (Volunteers for the Citizens' Observation of the Environment), which mobilized nearly 100 volunteers to collect and report data. A community-based participatory health survey, Fos EPSEAL was also carried out during the same period. We describe citizens' involvement in each study following Davis and Ramirez-Andreotta's (2021) ‘best practice’ grid. We also use residents' insights to refine understanding of the socio-exposome. ResultsThe region is significantly impacted by industrial pollution and fenceline communities are disproportionately exposed. The community-based participatory health survey documented negative health outcomes among the residents, including a higher prevalence of chronic symptoms and diabetes (e.g., 11.9%) in the Fos-Berre Lagoon region than in other communities. This methodology shows the benefits of the co-production of knowledge in environmental health: not only does it enable epistemological transformations favorable to the vulnerable population, but it also triggered public action (i.e., media and public authorities’ attention leading to official expertise reports, filing of collective complaints before the courts). ConclusionThis body of multiple participatory research studies over time is a useful approach to better understand the socio-exposome and health issues in an industrial zone.

Environmental health perception by Brussels inhabitants: comparison between a top-down raising awareness and citizen science

Abstract The effects of the environment on health are well documented and prove to be a real public health problem. It is therefore essential to raise public awareness of these issues to induce preventive and protective behaviours. We focused on two methods: passive information transmission (top-down approach) and citizen science (bottom-up approach). The study aims to compare both approaches while raising awareness among Brussels citizens. We created two groups: a traditional awareness group, receiving infographics by email, and a citizen science group, carrying out immersive activities with researchers. All enrolled participants filled out a questionnaire before and after. The “top-down” group (n = 137) received 3 infographics. The citizen science participants deep-dived into the environmental health body of knowledge, carried out individual measurements of air quality and noise pollution along a city walk and analysed, together, the results in groups to design actions. The citizen science sessions were finalised by a focus group. All sessions enjoyed and developed knowledge and awareness of environmental health. Accompanying citizens in developing knowledge was beneficial and required for environmental health empowerment. It showed the added value of citizen science in raising curiosity, creativity, and capacity building. The participants showed different socioeconomic statuses and demonstrated an appetite for understanding the exposures measured during the walks. Our results integrate several SDGs among those SDG4 and SDG3, since by raising awareness of participants, we enabled them to improve their capacities in becoming actors in their health. The risk of developing health problems related to the environment is higher in lower socio-economic groups, due to a greater vulnerability and the inequitable environment distribution between neighbourhoods. Pro-environmental behaviour fosters reduced exposure for now and future generations.

Quality of Chinese government environmental health information disclosure during COVID-19 pandemic: Satisfaction survey on University students.

Government played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic by disclosing related environmental health information to the public. A satisfaction survey is often used to evaluate the public's satisfaction of the government's information disclosure while reflecting problems in the current disclosure system. As University students generally have better cognitive skills, they efficiently received related information during the pandemic, and therefore 717 questionnaires completed by University students were selected for this study. During the pandemic, the quality of the government's environmental health information disclosure system ranked at 13.89, marginally higher than average. Moreover, the timeliness and content adequacy of the disclosure system ranked at a level slightly above average. By adopting Hayes PROCESS Model 4 and 8, this study found that there is a direct impact of environmental health knowledge and environmental health awareness on satisfaction. Furthermore, University students' environmental health knowledge and awareness enhanced satisfaction through the mediating effect of self-reported environmental behavior. Finally, this study attempted to discover the conditions under which environmental health knowledge and awareness would have a greater direct and indirect influence on satisfaction, that is, the reverse moderating effect of household income level. In addition, this paper offers policy recommendations to enhance quality of government environmental health information disclosure system.

Developing an environmental health knowledge questionnaire for health practitioners

Developing an environmental health knowledge questionnaire for health practitioners

Environmental health competence in Basque health workers. Analyzing the soil before sowing the seed

BACKGROUND AND AIM Modifiable environmental factors account for the 23% and 22% of mortality and morbidity respectively. However, it is unclear whether health practitioners – especially those in primary care – are sufficiently aware of the connections between environmental exposures and health and able to intervene in this domain. The objective of this study was to assess environmental health (EH) literacy and competences among health professionals working in the Basque Public Health System. METHODS We recruited a sample of 366 (85% females) including nurses, family doctors, paediatric doctors, gynaecological doctors and advanced university students of nursery and medicine. The online questionnaire measured 1) general and specific EH competences, 2) use of exposure clinical history, 3) perceived competence to deliver medical advice on several exposures, and, 4) perceptions of Basque Public Health Services. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests and ANOVA with post-hoc comparisons. RESULTS Overall, we found low to moderate general and specific EH competence and found that nurses and nursery students reported higher perceived general and specific competences than the rest of the profiles at the p &amp;#x3c; .001. These differences were small to large in size according to the Hedges’ g statistic. The sample was scarcely educated in the use of exposure clinical history and only 6 participants confirmed its use. The EH topics that more frequently appeared in the consultation room (e.g. passive smoke exposure or sun protection) were the ones for which the professionals reported a higher competence level and vice versa (least frequent topics were biomarkers and industrial emissions). Finally, even though Basque Public Health Services were highly regarded, participants rarely contacted them. CONCLUSIONS Interventions addressing environmental health knowledge and competences among health professionals in the Basque Health System are needed to improve population’s health. KEYWORDS: Environmental health competence, Health practitioners, Public health