Connecticut physicians' knowledge and needs assessment of environmentally related health hazards--a survey.

Health care professionals for the most part, have had little or no formal education in environmental or occupational medicine. A survey tool was created to determine the educational needs of physicians in Connecticut related to environmental medicine. The questionnaire targeted four informational areas: demographics, diagnosis of environmentally caused illnesses, knowledge of environmental hazards specific to Connecticut's Superfund sites, and preference of educational materials. Results of the survey indicated that Connecticut physicians are interested in obtaining more information about environmental hazards; that there is a need for basic information about toxic waste sites, their contaminants, and the diseases associated with them; and finally, that patients are now questioning physicians about environmental hazards, especially those popularized by the media. Clearly, physicians can play a key role in educating the public about environmental hazards.