[OEM] Pediatricians Need More Training On Environmental Health (fwd)

[Guest guest]

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

NIH News

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, October 21, 2004

CONTACT:

Schelp

919-541-5723

schelp@...

PEDIATRICIANS NEED MORE TRAINING ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Doctors and nurses need more environmental health training to prevent,

recognize, and treat diseases caused by environmental exposures, according

to a new study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health

Sciences.

Experts recommend that medical and nursing schools add environmental

health topics to training programs.

" We know pediatricians want to provide the best care possible, " said Dr.

Dearry, NIEHS associate director. " We want them to have the tools

they need to protect their patients against environmental hazards. "

A group of experts made up of physicians, nurses, and educators issued

recommendations to incorporate environmental health into pediatric medical

and nursing education. The study, conducted by the National Environmental

Education and Training Foundation, also identifies key medical and nursing

organizations that could help promote environmental health training, such

as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Association of Faculties of

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. The study results will be published in the

December 2004 issue of " Environmental Health Perspectives. "

The expert group studied the medical and nursing education systems from

undergraduate education through continuing education courses. The experts

identified places in the educational systems, such as licensing exams and

field work for nurses, where environmental health could be incorporated.

The group also recommended that government organizations should focus on

advancing children's environmental health issues.

The study reviewed ongoing evaluations of medical and nursing training

programs. Previous studies have shown that pediatric residency and

undergraduate medical and nursing education programs do not routinely

include comprehensive pediatric environmental health training in their

curricula. Few pediatricians are trained to ask their patients questions

on environmental exposures or give advice on environmental poisons,

although most see patients with health issues related to the environment,

and the majority of parents have expressed worry about their children's

exposure to environmental poisons. Furthermore, childhood diseases related

to the environment in American children, such as lead poisoning, asthma

and cancer, cost Americans billions annually.

The group of experts included representatives of National Academy of

Sciences, Institute of Medicine, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry, Association of American Medical Colleges, American Public Health

Association, Children's Environmental Health Network, Washington

University, Medical University of South Carolina, Children's National

Medical Center, Temple University, Oregon Health Sciences University,

Rutgers School of Nursing, Northeastern University, Drexel University,

University, and the University of North Carolina School of Public

Health.

" It's essential that we give more priority to pediatric environmental

health, " said Leyla Erk McCurdy at the National Environmental Education

and Training Foundation. " By following our recommendations, pediatric

health care providers will be better equipped to recognize, treat, and

prevent diseases related to factors in the environment. "

##

This NIH News Release is available online at:

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2004/niehs-21.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~