PURPOSE: To evaluate and summarize evidence on the effectiveness of interventions available to public health staff regarding the protection of the public from environmental risks. METHOD: This systematic review involved a comprehensive literature search, screening for relevance, quality assessment of relevant studies, data extraction and synthesis. RESULTS: Fourteen of 65 relevant studies were of 'moderate' or 'strong' quality. Intervention types in these 14 studies included: mass campaign, counselling, school curriculum, educational sessions, and distribution of printed materials. Short-term improvements in awareness or knowledge were observed in 13 of the 14 studies. Eight of 13 studies that examined behavioural outcomes observed short-term improvements in self-reported behavioural outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Positive short-term changes in health-protective awareness, knowledge and self-reported behaviour appear to be associated with relatively intensive interventions that use multiple methods and settings, and/or are delivered over multiple sessions.
PURPOSE: To evaluate and summarize evidence on the effectiveness of interventions available to public health staff regarding the protection of the public from environmental risks. METHOD: This systematic review involved a comprehensive literature search, screening for relevance, quality assessment of relevant studies, data extraction and synthesis. RESULTS: Fourteen of 65 relevant studies were of 'moderate' or 'strong' quality. Intervention types in these 14 studies included: mass campaign, counselling, school curriculum, educational sessions, and distribution of printed materials. Short-term improvements in awareness or knowledge were observed in 13 of the 14 studies. Eight of 13 studies that examined behavioural outcomes observed short-term improvements in self-reported behavioural outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Positive short-term changes in health-protective awareness, knowledge and self-reported behaviour appear to be associated with relatively intensive interventions that use multiple methods and settings, and/or are delivered over multiple sessions.
Authors: J A Mayer; D J Slymen; L Eckhardt; M R Johnston; J P Elder; J F Sallis; L Creech; K J Lui; C Rosenberg; S T Souvignier; B Stepanski Journal: Prev Med Date: 1997 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 4.018