David Schmitz 1, Marilyn G Klug 1, Gary G Schwartz 2
PMID: 34088820 DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.03.200553
READ ONLINE REPORT: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34088820
Background:
Exposure to radon at home is the largest cause of lung cancer after smoking, and the combination of smoking and radon increases lung cancer risk several-fold. North Dakota has some of the highest residential radon levels in the United States. Although family physicians in North Dakota commonly counsel patients about smoking cessation, little is known about their knowledge and practices concerning radon.
Methods:
We mailed a questionnaire to 350 North Dakota family physicians regarding radon knowledge, beliefs, their own radon testing, and radon counseling of patients. The responses were analyzed by descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and logistic regression.
Results:
Sixty-one percent of the surveys were completed. Seventy percent of family physicians correctly identified radon as radioactive; 67% reported that they do not inform patients about radon; and 80% reported never discussing the combined hazards of radon and smoking. Conversely, 35% of family physicians reported that they tested their own homes for radon.
Discussion:
Most North Dakota family physicians are knowledgeable about radon, and more than one third have tested their own homes. However, only a minority transmit this knowledge to their patients. Future efforts should educate physicians about communicating radon risks, especially in conjunction with smoking.
Keywords: Family Physicians;
Logistic Models; Lung Cancer; North Dakota; Radon; Smoking Cessation; Surveys and Questionnaires.
© Copyright 2021 by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Radon Knowledge and Practices Among Family Physicians in a High Radon State
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