title: [Awareness and knowledge as prerequisites for health oriented behavior].
abstract: The major aim of the Workers' Hearing Protection Program, undertaken by the Provincial Center of Occupational Medicine in Kielce, is to protect worker's hearing against adverse effects of occupational noise. The level of workers' awareness and knowledge of noise exposure was assessed during the initial state diagnosis. The anonymous survey covered 945 workers from 19 plants in the Swietokrzyskie province. In this group, 31% of workers was exposed to 75-85 dB(A) and 69% of workers to over 85 dB(A); 88% of those under study were aware of the exposure to the occupational exposure level (OEL) and 69% of them regarded their work as arduous and harmful. The workers reported that noise affected mostly their hearing organ (77%) and nervous system 61%). Of the 69%, only 39% of the workers exposed to noise exceeding 85 dB(A) were aware of that fact. The workers reported that the most frequent sources of information on noise levels in their workplaces were: heads of departments (44%), employees of work safety and hygiene section (44%), and physicians (23%). The results of the study indicate that occupational health services at workplaces should not limit their activities to therapy, but they should also carry out health education and perceive it as a basis for efficient protection of health and promotion of health conducive behavior.
authors.affiliation: Pracowni Promocji Zdrowía Wojewódzkiego Ośrodka Medycyny Pracy, Kielcach. womp@womp.com.pl
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zawadzka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011044:Poland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Swiadomość i wiedza warunkiem prozdrowotnych postaw pracowników w miejscu pracy.