title: Risk communication concerning welding fumes for the primary preventive care of welding apprentices in southern Brazil.
abstract: This study's aim was to assess the perceptions of welding apprentices concerning welding fumes being associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disorders and assess the implementation of risk communication as a primary prevention tool in the welding training process. This quasi-experimental, non-randomized study with before-and-after design was conducted with 84 welding apprentices in Southern Brazil. Poisson Regression analysis was used. Relative Risk was the measure used with a 95% confidence interval and 5% (p ≤ 0.05) significance level. Significant association was found between perceptions of worsened symptoms of respiratory disorders caused by welding fumes and educational level (p = 0.049), the use of goggles to protect against ultraviolet rays (p = 0.023), and access to services in private health facilities without insurance coverage (p = 0.001). Apprentices younger than 25 years old were 4.9 times more likely to perceive worsened cardiovascular symptoms caused by welding fumes after risk communication (RR = 4.91; CI 95%: 1.09 to 22.2). The conclusion is that risk communication as a primary preventive measure in continuing education processes implemented among apprentices, who are future welders, was efficacious. Thus, this study confirms that risk communication can be implemented as a primary prevention tool in welding apprenticeships.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900, Brazil. cezarvaz@vetorial.net.
authors.forename: Marta Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cezar-Vaz
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program on Nursing, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS 97500-970, Brazil. claricebonow@unipampa.edu.br.
authors.forename: Clarice Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bonow
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Food, Federal University of Rio Grande, RS 96202-900, Brazil. joanacezarvaz@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Joana Cezar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014896:Welding; D055815:Young Adult