Nursing Students’ Awareness of Electromagnetic Pollution and Affecting Factors

INTRODUCTION: Electromagnetic pollution results from an electric and magnetic field being over the limit of the area formed by the component waves and has negative impacts on the environment and human health. It is important for social and individual health that nursing students, who will provide healthcare in the future, be aware of electromagnetic pollution. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with 906 nursing students who volunteered to participate. The study aimed to determine nursing students’ awareness of electromagnetic pollution and related factors. An information form and the Electromagnetic Pollution Awareness Scale were used as data collection tools. The scale consists of subdimensions concerning electromagnetic pollution and ecosystem, electromagnetic pollution perception, effects of electromagnetic pollution on health, and electromagnetic pollution awareness. In the evaluation of the data obtained by using the SPSS 21.00 package program, descriptive statistical methods (average, standard deviation, frequency and percentage distributions) and parametric and nonparametric tests were used. RESULTS: The majority of students were women, and more than half lived in an apartment. Of the students, 71.3% stated they had knowledge about electromagnetic pollution. The majority of the respondents thought that the responsibility for electromagnetic pollution belonged to individuals. Of the students, 98.8% stated that they used mobile phones/computers, but 90% of them did not pay attention to SAR values. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The students’ awareness about electromagnetic pollution was found to be good but developable. In line with the results, it is recommended that studies be conducted aimed at improving nursing students’ awareness about electromagnetic pollution.