Current World Environment

Assessment of Air Pollution Knowledge Among Health Care Professionals of Syri Block, Solan, India

Ajay Kumar Singh¹ , Rajeev Kumar Aggarwal² ^* , Sumit Chawla³ and Kartik ¹

¹ Department of Health and Family Welfare, Solan, Himachal Pradesh India

² Department of Environment Science, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh India

³ Department of Community Medicine, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Chhainsa, Faridabad, Haryana India

Corresponding author Email: rajeev1792@rediffmail.com

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.20.3.32

Abstract

Air Pollution knowledge of health care providers determines communication of adverse effects of pollution to the patients. Hence a study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of health care providers on air pollution. A pilot cross-sectional study by telephonic survey, with informed consent and voluntary participation was conducted in October 2025 in health block Syri of district Solan, India.16 (36.4%) Doctors and 28 (63.6%) Paramedical staff, mean age 36.18 years, SD 9.8, participated. All perceived that air pollution affects human health and dampness (87.5% Doctors, 85.7% Paramedics)/ Foul smell (56.3% Doctors, 82.1% Paramedics) were also the causes. 81.3% Doctors significantly knew about Air Quality Index compared to 42.9% Paramedics (Chi square- 6.11, df 1, p= 0.01). 93% of respondents believed that patient’s indoor hospital stay gets affected by pollution and indoor plants can improve air quality. Only 4 doctors and 1 Paramedic knew about the concept of Air Changes Per Hour (x2 = 4.64, df = 1, p = 0.03). Only 64% (x2 = 7.39, df = 1, p = 0.00) Paramedics could name three diseases caused by air pollution. Majority of respondents (61%) knew names of indoor plants. Very less respondents (6%) bothered to check air quality in hospitals. However about 50% did care about dampness and foul smell and kept windows open for ventilation. Significantly low (18% Doctors, 50% Paramedics, x2 = 4.10, df = 1, p = 0.04) had seen information, education and communication (IEC) materials on air quality in hospital. Only 3 Paramedics had undergone training on air quality. The pilot study with low sample size as its limitation was a pioneer attempt in the region and it had inferred that the knowledge on air quality was inadequate among health care providers. There was also lack of attitude and practice of checking air quality. This was probably due to unavailability of IEC material in hospitals and no trainings of health care providers. The Department of Health has been sent recommendations to take up sensitization of health care professionals on various aspects of air quality.

Keywords

Air Pollution; Air Quality Index; Health care providers; Human health; Knowledge

Copy the following to cite this article:

Singh A. K, Aggarwal R. K, Chawla S, Kartik K. Assessment of Air Pollution Knowledge Among Health Care Professionals of Syri Block, Solan, India. Curr World Environ 2025;20(3). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.20.3.32

Copy the following to cite this URL:

Singh A. K, Aggarwal R. K, Chawla S, Kartik K. Assessment of Air Pollution Knowledge Among Health Care Professionals of Syri Block, Solan, India. Curr World Environ 2025;20(3).

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