Risks of electromagnetic fields in the view of German general practitioners - 3607S04545
urn:nbn:de:0221-2009042362 BfS-RESFOR-12/09
Summary
The study assesses the proportion of general practitioners (GPs) in Germany who assume health impacts of electromagnetic fields (EMF). Moreover, factors associated with this risk perception are examined. A 7 % random sample was drawn from all GPs working in Germany. Sampling was based on lists published online by the Regional Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. 1867 doctors received a long version of a selfadministered questionnaire about EMF and health, 928 doctors a short version (response rate 23.3 and 49.1, respectively). 37.3 % of responders to the short questionnaire agreed “that there are persons whose health complaints are caused by EMF when legal limits are met”. In the long questionnaire a strong selection bias occurred leading to 57.4 % of responders agreeing to that statement. A late responder analysis of the short questionnaire led to a still smaller estimate of 34 % for GPs believing in health-relevant effects of EMF.
