environmental health in pediatric care

Pediatric medical and nursing education lack the environmental health content needed to properly prepare health care professionals to prevent, recognize, manage, and treat environmental exposure-related diseases. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of programs that incorporate pediatric environmental health (PEH) into curricula and practice.

This Environmental Health Perspectives study evaluated the effectiveness of the National Environmental Education Foundation's (NEEF) Children's Environmental Health Faculty Champions Initiative, which is designed to build environmental health capacity among pediatric health care professionals.

During the 12 months following the workshop, the faculty champions' average pretest score of 52% was significantly elevated to 65.5% on the first posttest and to 71.5% on the second posttest, showing an increase and retention of environmental health knowledge. Ninety percent of faculty champions reported that PEH had been integrated into the curricula at their institution.

The initiative was highly effective in achieving its goal of building environmental health capacity among health care professionals.

Steve - this is so important for health professionals. We have a special section in our wellness packet that addresses environmental exposure because it is crucial to the overall wellness picture.