A Study of Self-Reported Health Among Residents Living Near Local Sources of Environmental Pollution: A Literature Review. Part Two: Analysis of Results and Future Directions
Problem Statement: Epidemiological studies aim to assess the health impact of local sources of environmental pollution by using self-reported health—based on respondents’ perceptions of their own health—as the dependent variable. The objective of this study is to analyze the advantages and findings of this type of approach. The first part focused on the indicators used. This second part presents the results of the studies. Methods Based on a review of the literature, this article presents an analysis of the role of self-reported health in epidemiological studies on local sources of environmental pollution. It analyzes the association between exposure variables and self-reported health variables, as well as factors other than exposure to environmental conditions that may influence the reporting of health events. Results The studies show that self-reported health events associated with exposure to a local source of environmental pollution are varied in nature. They highlight effects on people’s psychological health and well-being. The perception of pollution, particularly sensory information such as odors, is a contributing factor to health effects in these situations. Attitudes, which refer to people’s beliefs, concerns, and behaviors regarding the source of pollution, significantly influence the reporting of health events. While attitudes serve as a means of assessing information bias in biomedical studies, they constitute the primary explanatory factors in studies conducted using a biopsychosocial approach determined by the combination of physical, chemical, biological, psychological, and social factors at play in these situations. Conclusion The study of self-reported health offers the possibility of a multifactorial approach to population health in the context of local sources of environmental pollution. This approach gains relevance when it is situated within a multidisciplinary framework that incorporates the understanding of psychosocial factors provided by the humanities and social sciences. The use of this approach for epidemiological surveillance should be evaluated in light of the needs for public health management in these situations. (R.A.)
Author(s): Daniau C, Dor F, Eilstein D, Lefranc A, Empereur Bissonnet P, Dab W
Publishing year: 2013
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