| Objectives:1.To assess part of health care providers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the environment in children’s health, and confidence when dealing with environmental exposures of the capital of the northwest provinces. To investigate the effects of major environmental exposures to children’s health, and find out the awareness on this factor (air pollution) of some staff in health care and environmental protection departments.2.To evaluate the training effect of part of health care providers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the environment in children’s health, and confidence when dealing with environmental exposures.Methods:1. A two-page survey from November 2012 to March 2013, analyze part of health care providers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the environment in children’s health, and confidence when dealing with environmental exposures of the capital of the northwest provinces. To investigate the effects of major environmental exposures to children’s health through the two-page survey, and find out the awareness on this factor (air pollution) of some staff in health care and environmental protection departments by interview.2. Environmental pollution and children’s health training in Lanzhou from September 26st to 30st in 2013, analysis the differences between pre-training and post-training on attitudes and confidence by questionnaire.Results:1. Health Care Providers’ Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding the Environment in Children’s Health(1) The attitudes of environmental in children’s healthThe role of environment in children’ health was reported to be strong (x=4.35), the magnitude of children’s environmental related-illnesses was increasing (x=3.92), the control that providers had over exposures was rated more modestly (x=2.87), assessing environmental exposures through history-taking in pediatric practice was more important (x=3.94); providers who had a copy of one of two widely-published texts on children’s environmental health felt that environment play a stronger role than who didn’t have(OR=0.65, P=0.036), the control was stronger (OR=0.39, P<0.001) and environmental exposures through history-taking in pediatric practice was more important (OR=0.59, P=0.005); providers with previous environmental history taken felt that was more important than who didn’t take (OR=0.54, P=0.003).(2) The confidence when dealing with environmental exposuresSelf-efficacy reported with managing lead, pesticide, air pollution, mercury, mold and PCBs exposures were generally modest (x=2.23,2.48,2.12,2.33,2.48,2.18); providers from Lanzhou felt more confident in managing these exposures than who from Urumqi, Xining and Yinchuan (OR<1,P<0.05); providers who had a copy of one of two widely published texts on children’s environmental health felt more confident in managing these exposures than who didn’t have (OR<1, P<0.05); providers with previous environmental history taken felt more confident in managing these exposures than who didn’t take (OR<1, P<0.05); providers who have been practicing in pediatrics≥20 years felt more confident in managing lead, mercury and PCBs exposures than others (OR<1, P<0.05).(3) The effects of major environmental exposures to children’s healthHealth care providers have seen children affected by the main home environment were smokers around the children (59.66%), pets (50.49%) and housing (50.35%) in the past year, and health care providers have seen children affected by the main outdoor environment were air pollution (74.75%), pesticide (62.48%) and water quality (46.23%) in the past year.(4) The attitudes of air pollution in children’s healthThe proportion of interviewee in the study have done some researches to protect children from air pollution was lower (36.11%<63.89%).31.94% of these interviewees in the study felt there were policies exist to protect children from air pollution. In these interviewees,47.83% felt the policies were not detailed,54.17% felt that enforcement of policies relevant to protection of children needed to be strengthened.72.22% interviewee in the study felt that environmental and public health research played a supporting role in informing policy to protect children. All interviewees in the study felt government was the key strategic players in protecting children from air pollution; few interviewees felt guardian, teachers, polluting industries also played the important role. Less attention paid by the government and public (56.94%), incomplete laws and regulations (40.28%), and lack of awareness (31.94%) were the mainly barriers to protecting children from air pollution.2. The Training Effectiveness Evaluation of Health Care Providers’ Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding the Environment in Children’s Health(1) The attitudes of environmental in children’s health Providers felt that environment play a stronger role in children’s health than pre-training (4.87>4.45, P=0.006); providers felt that the control was stronger than pre-training (3.32>2.71, P=0.014); providers felt that assessing environmental exposures through history-taking in pediatric practice was more important than pre-training (4.61>4.13, P=0.011).(2) The confidence when dealing with environmental exposuresProviders felt more confident in managing lead, pesticide, air pollution, mercury, mold and PCBs than pre-training (3.21>2.50,.P=0.005; 2.71>2.21,P=0.032; 3.03>2.50,P=0.020; 2.92>2.45, P=0.030).Conclusions:1. The health care providers in this survey in the capital of Northwest have strong beliefs regarding the role of environment in children’s health, and the confidence when dealing with environmental exposures are generally modest; the providers who referred to texts on children’s environmental health, who with environmental history and environment pollution and children’s health took can enhance providers’capacity. In the capital of Northwest, providers in this survey have seen children affected by the main environment was air pollution; some staff in health care and environmental protection departments in this region are lack of doing some researches to protect children from air pollution and the awareness of the relevant policies.2. The health care providers’ beliefs regarding the role of environment in children’s health and confidence in managing these exposures were enhanced through this training... |
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