A survey on knowledge and awareness on the issue "microplastics": a pilot study on a sample of future public health professionals.
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Microplastics, , , ,
environment
public health
public health professionals
university students
Journal
Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita
ISSN: 1120-9135
Titre abrégé: Ann Ig
Pays: Italy
ID NLM: 9002865
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
entrez:
4
8
2020
pubmed:
4
8
2020
medline:
17
8
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Microplastics pollution represents a global public health concern. Since the greatest amount of microplastics are of anthropogenic origin, one of the most relevant strategies to reduce microplastics pollution is to raise awareness among the population and this is even more important for all those involved in public health prevention interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness on microplastics of a samples of future healthcare workers. A cross-sectional study was performed on 151 university students in the field of Public Health, both pre- and post-graduate, attending the Sapienza University of Rome courses. A questionnaire consisting of three sections was administered to the participants. The first section assessed knowledge and awareness on microplastics, the second consisted of an informative brochure on microplastics, the third evaluated the awareness after reading the brochure, and interventions considered useful to manage microplastics pollution. About 25% of participants had never heard of microplastics. The scores on knowledge about microplastics were low, and differences between the investigated courses were not statistically significant (p-Value=0.134). Internet was the main source of information on microplastics, while the scores describing concern about the investigated issue resulted always higher after reading the informative brochure respect to before reading. The lack of knowledge about microplastics pollution highlights that future public health workers should be better informed and, therefore, able to transfer essential information to the population. Increasing general population's knowledge and awareness would increase risk perception and make all individuals more active actors for reducing microplastics pollution.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Microplastics pollution represents a global public health concern. Since the greatest amount of microplastics are of anthropogenic origin, one of the most relevant strategies to reduce microplastics pollution is to raise awareness among the population and this is even more important for all those involved in public health prevention interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness on microplastics of a samples of future healthcare workers.
STUDY DESIGN
A cross-sectional study was performed on 151 university students in the field of Public Health, both pre- and post-graduate, attending the Sapienza University of Rome courses.
METHODS
A questionnaire consisting of three sections was administered to the participants. The first section assessed knowledge and awareness on microplastics, the second consisted of an informative brochure on microplastics, the third evaluated the awareness after reading the brochure, and interventions considered useful to manage microplastics pollution.
RESULTS
About 25% of participants had never heard of microplastics. The scores on knowledge about microplastics were low, and differences between the investigated courses were not statistically significant (p-Value=0.134). Internet was the main source of information on microplastics, while the scores describing concern about the investigated issue resulted always higher after reading the informative brochure respect to before reading.
CONCLUSIONS
The lack of knowledge about microplastics pollution highlights that future public health workers should be better informed and, therefore, able to transfer essential information to the population. Increasing general population's knowledge and awareness would increase risk perception and make all individuals more active actors for reducing microplastics pollution.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32744588
doi: 10.7416/ai.2020.2377
doi:
Substances chimiques
Microplastics
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM