Environmental health

In this study, survey data from rural, low-income families were analyzed for the demographic and cognitive predictors of indoor radon testing. Participants (n = 224) lived in Zone 1 designated Montana counties. Logistic regression analyses were used to test a theoretically supported model in predicting radon testing. Half of the participants had never heard of the health effects of radon. The overall radon testing rate was 13.8% (n = 31) with rate of testing higher among home-owners (χ2 (1, 224) = 8.4, p = .004, OR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.4 – 7.4).

 OBJECTIVES: To examine the level of awareness of radon issues, correlates of elective testing behaviors, and the accuracy of risk perception for radon exposures among rural residents receiving public health services.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used in which questionnaire data and household analytic data for radon levels were collected from a nonprobabilistic sample of rural households.

Nurses are increasingly the primary contact for clients concerned about health problems related to their environment. In response to the need for nursing expertise in the field of environmental health, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) have designed core competencies for the nursing profession. The IOM competencies focus on four areas: (1) knowledge and concepts; (2) assessment and referral; advocacy, ethics, and risk communication; and (4) legislation and regulation.

 Objectives: The primary aim of this research was to assess radon awareness and testing across 2 housing types.
Design and Sample: Cross-sectional prevalence study with time trends. National, probabilistic sample of 18,138 and 29,632 respondents from the 1994 and 1998 National Health Interview Surveys, respectively.