PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Background: The aim of the study was to find out what primary care physicians in Germany think about the possible health risks of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and how they deal with this topic in discussions with patients. Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to a nationwide, representative sample drawn from the regional associations of statutory health insurance physicians in Germany, consisting of 2795 primary care physicians (7% of the total number in the country). 435 of them returned four-page questionnaire (response rate, 23.3%), and 456 returned a one-page questionnaire (response rate, 49.1%). They were asked about their views on the health risks of electromagnetic fields and about the experience with patients on this topic. Results: 61.4% of the primary care physicians reported having discussed possible health risks of electromagnetic fields with at least one patient. In 73.4% of these discussions, the patient raised the subject first and presumed that such risks do, in fact, exist. Among all discussions in which the patient expressed this concern, the physician considered the association to be plausible only 24.1% of the time. In half of all consultations in which EMF was discussed as a possible danger, the pyhsician recommended some type of pretective measure. The most frequent recommendation was to remove electrical equipment; the second most frequent to move to another location. the physicians' answers to the questionnaires revealed a poor knowledge of the properties and risks of electromagnetic fields. Conclusion: Primary care physicians often discuss the putative health risks of electromagnetic fields with their patients, yet their recommendations very often are not evidence-based and might have major consequences in their patients' lives.