5243.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - Board 10

Abstract #16857

Why Have a Conference? The Impact of a Pediatric Environmental Health Conference on Health Care Professional Behavior

Susannah E. Donahue, MPH and Jennifer P. Rubenstein. Children's Environmental Health Network, 5900 Hollis Street, Suite R3, Emeryville, CA 94608

Most health care practitioners receive little or no training on the health effects of children's exposure to environmental hazards. This presentation will examine the impact of the Children's Environmental Health Network's June 1999 conference, which provided training, information, and resources on pediatric environmental health to a multidisciplinary group of physicians, nurses, and other public health professionals.

A survey was administered to participants prior to, and four months after attending the conference. The results of this survey show that the conference significantly improved participants' ability to incorporate children's environmental health into their professional practice. For example, before participating in the conference, only 13% had collaborated with others outside their organization on pediatric environmental health issues. After participating, over 64% had taken the initiative to collaborate with others outside of their organization as part of their work on children's environmental health. Survey results and conference activities will be reviewed.

Learning Objectives: After reviewing this poster, the participant will be able to 1) discuss the health care professional's role in protecting children from environmental health hazards; and 2) identify activities to strengthen health care professional's capability to fulfill this role

Keywords: Environmental Health, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA