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Most U.S. Adults Unaware of Forever Chemicals
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Three-quarters of U.S. adults do not know what forever chemicals are, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in PLOS ONE.
T. Allen Berthold, Ph.D., from Texas A&M AgriLife in College Station, and colleagues administered a nationwide survey to assess awareness of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and community contamination; awareness of PFAS-containing products and intentions to change product use; and awareness and concern about PFAS in drinking water. The analysis included data from 1,100 online respondents.
The researchers found that almost half the respondents had never heard of PFAS and did not know what it is (45.1 percent), while an additional 31.6 percent had heard of PFAS but did not know what it is. The vast majority of respondents (97.4 percent) did not believe their drinking water had been impacted by PFAS. There were no associations between demographic factors and knowledge of PFAS or levels of concern with PFAS in drinking water. Known community exposure was the strongest predictor of PFAS awareness, and respondents aware of community exposure were more likely to change their use of items with potential PFAS contamination and answer that their drinking water sources were also contaminated with PFAS.
"PFAS information and health risks need to be better communicated to the public to help increase awareness," the authors write.
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Burnout, Lack of Fulfillment Linked to Physician Intention to Leave
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Burnout, lack of professional fulfillment, and other well-being-linked factors are associated with intention to leave (ITL) among physicians, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in JAMA Network Open.
Jennifer A. Ligibel, M.D., from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and colleagues describe the prevalence of burnout, professional fulfillment, and ITL among physicians at academic-affiliated health care systems. Data were included from 18,719 academic physicians who responded to a survey.
The researchers found that 37.9 percent of the respondents met the criteria for burnout, 39.3 percent met the criteria for professional fulfillment, and 32.6 percent reported moderate or greater ITL, with variation across specialties. Each 1-point increase in burnout was associated with ITL after adjustment for demographics (odds ratio, 1.52), while there was an inverse association for each 1-point increase in professional fulfillment with ITL (odds ratio, 0.64). Inverse associations with ITL were seen for each 1-point increase in supportive leadership behaviors, peer support, personal-organizational values alignment, perceived gratitude, COVID-19 organizational support, and electronic health record helpfulness after adjustment for demographics, burnout, and professional fulfillment. Direct associations with ITL were seen for each 1-point increase in depression and negative impact of work on personal relationships.
"These results underscore the importance of the connections between academic physicians and both institutional leadership and mission, as well as point to the need for developing initiatives with a comprehensive approach that considers burnout, professional fulfillment, and other organizational and individual-level well-being factors to help prevent physician turnover," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to Marvin Behavioral Health Inc.
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