title: [Levels of awareness of occupational and general cardiovascular risk factors among metal industry employees].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term exposure to physical, chemical, ergonomic and psychosocial environmental factors may lead to occupational cardiovascular disease in metal industry employees. This study aimed to determine levels of knowledge levels regarding occupational and cardiovascular risk factors among metal industry employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted between 2nd and 6th June 2014 with the participation of 82 employees. All were working in a medium-sized workplace in the metal industry. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire, which included socio-demographic characteristics and occupational cardiovascular risk factors, and a scale developed by Arıkan et al. to measure awareness levels of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CARRF-KL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of employees was 39.97±8.44. Of the participants, 58.5% stated that they had knowledge on cardiac disease risk factors. The mean CARRF-KL score was found to be 18.65±4.04. The percentage of employees stating that they had no knowledge on the occupational risks for such diseases was 79.3%, while 19.5% stated that job stress caused cardiac diseases. One individual (1.2%) stated that one of the chemical solvents used in the working environment was a risk factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although awareness among metal industry employees of cardiovascular risk factors was above average, it was determined that they do not have adequate information on occupational risk factors. Prolonged and unprotected levels exposure to environmental factors constitute a risk for cardiovascular disease. This information is important for the development of preventive cardiology.
authors.affiliation: Lüleburgaz Joint Health Security Unit, Kırklareli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gürdoğan
authors.affiliation: Trakya University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eylem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paslı Gürdoğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arı
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ertürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genç
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Edirne State Hospital, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Uçar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult