The role of personal beliefs and social influences as determinants of respirator use among construction painters.
The purpose of this study was to identify and rank potential determinants of respirator use among painters in the construction industry. As part of a health survey of union painters, 169 male spray painters were questioned about their own beliefs concerning the consequences of wearing cartridge respirators, as well as about the perceived attitudes of others in the workplace toward respirators. Intended respirator use was more strongly associated with beliefs than was past use. The most important beliefs concerned discomfort or inconvenience. Other determinants that were associated with respirator use were respirator availability, cigarette smoking, and social influences. It was concluded that the most effective intervention strategy to increase respirator use would be multidimensional and that efforts to change only a worker's beliefs may have limited success.
White
M C
MC
Occupational Health Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Baker
E L
EL
Larson
M B
MB
Wolford
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D001519:Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011482:Protective Devices; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D012907:Smoking