The efficacy of public health information for encouraging radon gas awareness and testing varies by audience age, sex and profession

Radioactive radon inhalation is a leading cause of lung cancer and underlies an ongoing public health crisis. Radon exposure prevention strategies typically begin by informing populations about health effects, and their initial efficacy is measured by how well and how fast information convinces individuals to test properties. This communication process is rarely individualized, and there is little understanding if messages impact diverse demographics equally. Here, we explored how 2,390 people interested in radon testing differed in their reaction to radon's public health information and their subsequent decision to test. Only 20% were prompted to radon test after 1 encounter with awareness information, while 65% required 2–5 encounters over several months, and 15% needed 6 to > 10 encounters over many years. People who most delayed testing were more likely to be men or involved in engineering, architecture, real estate and/or physical science-related professions. Social pressures were not a major factor influencing radon testing. People who were the least worried about radon health risks were older and/or men, while negative emotional responses to awareness information were reported more by younger people, women and/or parents. This highlights the importance of developing targeted demographic messaging to create effective radon exposure prevention strategies.

AB0701 ANTIBODY RAPID TEST POSITIVE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT A GERMAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: FIRST WAVE CHARACTERISTICS

Background:Freiburg was among the most heavily affected German cities during the first wave of Sars-Cov-2 infections in spring 2020. Consequently, the University Medical Center Freiburg was one of the first hospitals in Germany to treat Covid19 patients.Objectives:To assess the proportion and characteristics of health care workers (HCW) that have been infected during that first wave SARS-CoV-2 serum IgG and IgM antibodies were measured.Methods:HCW (n=902, mean age: 40.7 years) participated in this study, and filled out an epidemiological questionnaire. Serum samples were analysed for SARS-Cov-2 IgG/IgM antibodies via rapid diagnostic test (RT) and via ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 14.2. An exposure prevention score was developed to quantify the adherence to preventive measures in everyday life.Results:902 HCW were tested by RT, and 499 by ELISA. In total, 11.5% of recruited HCW were antibody-positive in the RT, 12.2% in the ELISA. 87.5% of RT positives, 98% of ELISA-positives reported symptoms, compared to 74.6% and 78% of negatives, respectively. Symptoms such as cough (57%/46%), loss of smell and taste (34%/5.2%), fatigue (68%/45%), fever (48%/24%), body aches (45%/22%), and headaches (58%/46%) were reported by significantly more RT positives compared to negatives. The respective differences were even more pronounced (p<0.001) among ELISA-positives compared to negatives with >50% of those positive reported impaired smell or taste compared to less than 7% among the group of ELISA-negatives (p<0.00001).In logistic regression models, shift work and belonging to the lowest quartile of the exposure prevention score were significantly associated with seropositivity in both tests. Exposure towards children was inversely associated with seropositivity, however, in the finally adjusted model only significant for those that were RT-positive, but not ELISA-positive, reflecting the lower specificity of the former.Conclusion:The endemic infection rate in HCW was high. HCW adhering to preventive measures in everyday life had lower infection rates.Disclosure of Interests:Manuel Beck: None declared, Alexandra Nieters: None declared, Marta Rizzi: None declared, Ulrich Salzer: None declared, Jens Thiel Speakers bureau: BMS, Nils Venhoff Speakers bureau: Novartis, Nicole Peter: None declared, Hermann Eibel: None declared, Reinhard Voll Speakers bureau: Novartis, Grant/research support from: BMS, Pfizer, Novartis, Stephanie Finzel Speakers bureau: Novartis

Reducing the Incidence of Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids

Methods: We used a Pareto chart to identify priority areas for our project based on magnitude of incidence of BBF exposures. A driver diagram was developed with four main primary drivers including risk awareness, attitudes and practice, staff experience, and leadership engagement. Intervention ramps and changes were implemented using multiple PDSA cycles addressing staff knowledge and awareness about BBF exposure prevention and management using surveys and learning brochures and assessment of staff compliance with safe practice. The project included the following measures (i) outcome measure: number of days between BBF exposure incidents; (ii) Process measures: BBF exposure risk awareness score, attitude and practice score, and proportion of staff compliant with BBF exposure safe practice; (iii) BBF reporting exposure score and proportion of staff satisfied with BBF exposure prevention and management policy. Ethical approval of the project was not required. Results: About 80% of BBF exposure incidents were due to needlestick injuries. Emergency unit, operating theatre, hemodialysis unit, laboratory unit, and utility services accounted for 80% of all BBF exposure incidents. Around 47% of the incidents occurred among nurses. Our project was associated with increase in attitude and safe practice score form 75% to 100%. The compliance with safe practice increased from 77% to 86%, and reporting of exposure increased from 75% to 100%. Staff satisfaction increased from 65% at baseline to 96%. Knowledge about prevention and management of BBF exposure (safe practice) increased from 60% to 92% in the hemodialysis unit. However, the median number of days between BBF exposures increased from 13 days at baseline to 18 days in May 2019. Conclusion: Our quality improvement project has identified the priorities clinical areas accounting for the majority of BBF exposure incident. The initial phase of the project in hemodialysis unit was associated with significant increase in knowledge scores about prevention and management of BBF exposure, compliance with safe practice, and staff satisfaction. In addition, the project was associated with significant increase in reporting of BBF exposure, which explains why we were not able to increase the median number of days between BBF exposures to 50 days. We have started spreading our interventions and change ideas to other units in Al-Khor general Hospital. Quality improvement projects can reduce the incidence of BBF exposure having the priority areas identified and the relevant drivers are addressed appropriately

Prevenção à exposição solar: percepção dos alunos de uma escola de surf

Resumo: Apesar de campanhas preventivas darem ênfase aos riscos da exposição ao sol, os dados da literatura demonstram que 50% dos adolescentes bronzeiam-se intencionalmente sem o uso de proteção adequada. O estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a percepção dos alunos da escola beneficente de surf sobre a prevenção à exposição solar. Pesquisa de campo com abordagem qualitativa realizada na Escola Beneficente de Surf na Comunidade Serviluz em Fortaleza, no período de março e abril de 2017. Foram realizadas 10 entrevistas com alunos do sexo masculino com idade entre 12 e 18 anos. Posteriormente interpretadas através da análise de narrativa e da Antropologia Interpretativa. Com o estudo, foi possível compreender que os alunos não possuem conhecimento aprofundado sobre os riscos que o sol pode ocasionar-lhes, eles necessitam tomar consciência dos hábitos protetores e da valorização das medidas preventivas, como uso de protetor solar, roupas, óculos escuros e objetos que os protejam do sol.Palavras-chave: Fotoprotetor; Prevenção; Exposição solar. Sun exposure prevention: perception of students of a surf schoolAbstract: Although preventive campaigns emphasize the risks of sun exposure, literature data show that 50% of adolescents intentionally tan without the use of adequate protection. The study aimed to know the perception of students of the charity surf school about the prevention of sun exposure. Field research with qualitative approach carried out at the Serviluz Community Beneficent Surf School in Fortaleza, from March to April 2017. Ten interviews were conducted with male students aged between 12 and 18 years. Subsequently interpreted through narrative analysis and interpretive anthropology. With the study, it was possible to understand that the students do not have in-depth knowledge about the risks that the sun can cause them, they need to be aware of the protective habits and the valorization of the preventive measures, such as the use of sunscreen, clothes, sunglasses and objects that protect them from the sun.Keywords: Photoprotector; Prevention; Sun exposure.