"We know pediatricians want to provide the best care possible," said Dr. Allen 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 mo
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Contact: John Schelp
schelp@niehs.nih.gov
919-541-5723
NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
21-Oct-2004