Catherine Musham

Is Trust a Realistic Goal of Environmental Risk Communication

Environmental risk communication often fails in its efforts to overcome prevalent public distrust of government and industrial agencies. But, is achieving trust a realistic goal? The authors begin by reexamining definitions of the terms trust and credibility and summarizing recent assessments of the role trust plays in risk communication. On the basis of research conducted among people living near major nuclear power and hazardous waste storage facilities in rural South Carolina, they address whether trust, defined as uncritical emotional acceptance, is necessary for adequate risk communication. The authors propose that strategies of risk communication should focus not on building trust but on establishing procedures and standards that the public understands and accepts.

Environmental health in medical school curricula : views of academic deans

Academic deans at 126 US medical schools were surveyed in Spring 1994. Comparisons of means and frequencies, multiple regression, and factor analysis were used. Study results showed only low to moderate expectations for graduate competence in seven environmental health competency areas. Over two-thirds of deans (70%) indicated that there was “minimal” emphasis on environmental health at their schools; 61% thought that ideally there should be “moderate” emphasis. An “already crowded curriculum” and “too few qualified faculty” were frequently cited as barriers to greater emphasis on environmental health. Students were identified most commonly as the group expressing the greatest support for environmental health education. Although there was not a clear consensus, occupational medicine departments were most often selected as best suited to offer environmental medicine education.

Environmental Health Competencies: A Survey of U.S. Nurse Practitioner Programs

Because of widespread public and governmental concern about the health effects of environmental hazards and exposure in recent years, and the increasing incidence of environmentally-induced diseases, it is important that primary care nurse practitioners possess the knowledge and skills to effectively address environmental health as a component of their practice. A mailed questionnaire survey of 187 U.S. nurse practitioner (NP) programs was conducted, with a response rate of 64%, to determine: 1) current and ideal emphasis on environmental health, 2) faculty preparation for teaching environmental health, 3) environmental health competencies expected of graduates, 4) didactic and clinical contact hours devoted to environmental health, and 5) barriers and incentives to greater emphasis on environmental health. Findings reveal that more than two-thirds of NP program directors believe there should be greater emphasis on environmental health in their programs, but expressed concerns about overcrowded curricula and lack of faculty preparation as barriers to change. Competencies with the highest mean ratings included understanding the relationship between environmental hazards and human health, accessing information resources related to environmental hazards and health, and counseling clients about how they can reduce risks associated with environmental hazards. The two factors identified as most likely to increase the emphasis on environmental health in NP programs were having nurse faculty with expertise and being able to access information resources related to environmental health. Currently, insufficient attention is given to environmental health in nurse practitioner education programs.

Environmental Medicine Education in the United States

Abstract The relationship of the environment to human health has become increasingly important in recent years, although the capacity of many physicians to treat environmentally associated illnesses is questionable. In this article, the authors describe knowledge, limitations of practicing physicians and barriers to their greater understanding of environmental medicine. A current widespread lack of emphasis on environmental health topics at U.S. medical schools is discussed, as well as special environmental education programs and initiatives among medical specialty organizations.