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- Title
Citizen Science Approach to Home Radon Testing, Environmental Health Literacy and Efficacy.
- Authors
STANIFER, STACY; HOOVER, ANNA GOODMAN; RADEMACHER, KATHY; RAYENS, MARY KAY; HANEBERG, WILLIAM; HAHN, ELLEN J.
- Abstract
Exposure to radon is a leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. However, few test their homes for radon. There is a need to increase access to radon testing and decrease radon exposure. This longitudinal, mixed-methods study using a citizen science approach recruited and trained a convenience sample of 60 non-scientist homeowners from four rural Kentucky counties to test their homes for radon using a low-cost continuous radon detector, report back findings, and participate in a focus group to assess their testing experience. The aim was to evaluate changes in environmental health literacy (EHL) and efficacy over time. Participants completed online surveys at baseline, post-testing, and 4-5 months later to evaluate EHL, response efficacy, health information efficacy, and selfefficacy related to radon testing and mitigation. Mixed modeling for repeated measures evaluated changes over time. Citizen scientists reported a significant increase in EHL, health information efficacy, and radon testing self-efficacy over time. While there was a significant increase in citizen scientists' confidence in their perceived ability to contact a radon mitigation professional, there was no change over time in citizen scientists' beliefs that radon mitigation would reduce the threat of radon exposure, nor was there a change in their capacity to hire a radon mitigation professional. Further research is needed to understand the role of citizen science in home radon mitigation.
- Subjects
ENVIRONMENTAL health study &; teaching; CITIZEN science; LUNG cancer; THERAPEUTIC use of radon; INTERNET surveys; SELF-efficacy
- Publication
Citizen Science: Theory & Practice, 2022, Vol 7, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2057-4991
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5334/cstp.472