{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T05:17:46Z","timestamp":1790140666468,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,17]],"date-time":"2024-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1718582400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Air pollution has emerged as a global public health concern. Specifically, in Medell\u00edn, Colombia, episodes of elevated air pollution have been documented. Medical students\u2019 knowledge of air pollution is paramount for implementing future interventions directed toward patients. The aim of this research was to delineate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding air pollution among medical students at a private university in Medell\u00edn. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 352 medical students was conducted. A questionnaire was administered, generating scores ranging from 0 to 100, where a higher score signified better knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using frequencies, summary measures, non-parametric tests, and linear regression. Results: In total, 31% rated the education received at the university on the relationship between health and air quality as fair to poor, and 81% perceived the air quality in the city as poor. The knowledge score was 77.8 (IQR 71.1\u201385.6), with 90% acknowledging that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of various diseases. The attitudes score was 82.1 (IQR 71.8\u201387.2), and 25.9% believed that air pollution is a multifactorial problem, rendering their actions ineffective. In terms of practices, the score was 50 (IQR 42.9\u201357.1), indicating that students either did not employ protective measures against pollution or used inappropriate practices such as masks or air purifiers. Regression analysis revealed no association between knowledge and practices. Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore that medical students possess commendable knowledge regarding the health effects of air pollution. However, their adoption of inappropriate practices for self-protection is evident. The lack of correlation between knowledge and practices highlights the necessity of educational initiatives to be complemented by regulatory and cultural interventions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph21060789","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,17]],"date-time":"2024-06-17T12:48:40Z","timestamp":1718628520000},"page":"789","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Air Pollution among Medical Students"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"21","author":[{"given":"Santiago","family":"Rendon-Marin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Infettare, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medell\u00edn 050012, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1361-3124","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis Felipe","family":"Higuita-Guti\u00e9rrez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medell\u00edn 050012, Colombia"},{"name":"Escuela de Microbiolog\u00eda, Universidad de Antioquia, Medell\u00edn 050010, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3433-7288","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diana Maryory","family":"Gomez-Gallego","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Infettare, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medell\u00edn 050012, Colombia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2023, August 22). Ambient (Outdoor) Air Pollution. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2021). WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines: Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide, WHO."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"OPS\/OMS|Organizaci\u00f3n Panamericana de La Salud (2023, March 23). Contaminaci\u00f3n Del Aire Ambiental Exterior y En La Vivienda: Preguntas Frecuentes. Available online: https:\/\/www.paho.org\/es\/temas\/calidad-aire-salud\/contaminacion-aire-ambiental-exterior-vivienda-preguntas-frecuentes."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2022, August 20). Contaminaci\u00f3n Atmosf\u00e9rica. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/air-pollution#tab=tab_1."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1007\/s11869-022-01260-6","article-title":"The Role of Murine Models in the Study of the Respiratory Tract Immune Response Induced by Particulate Matter","volume":"16","author":"Gomez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Air Qual. Atmos. Health"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105876","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2020.105876","article-title":"Short-Term Exposure to Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3) and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"142","author":"Orellano","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Int."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"505570","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2020.00014","article-title":"Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution: A Review","volume":"8","author":"Manisalidis","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"166340","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2023.166340","article-title":"The Impact of Air Pollution on Respiratory Diseases in an Era of Climate Change: A Review of the Current Evidence","volume":"898","author":"Tran","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Total. Environ."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1007\/s11869-015-0327-6","article-title":"Volatile Emissions from Common Consumer Products","volume":"8","author":"Steinemann","year":"2015","journal-title":"Air Qual. Atmos. Health"},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"US EPA, O. (2024, April 08). Volatile Organic Compounds\u2019 Impact on Indoor Air Quality, Available online: https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/indoor-air-quality-iaq\/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107611","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2022.107611","article-title":"A Review of Indoor Gaseous Organic Compounds and Human Chemical Exposure: Insights from Real-Time Measurements","volume":"170","author":"You","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Int."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42390","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-020-10574-w","article-title":"Inflammatory Effects of Particulate Matter Air Pollution","volume":"27","author":"Taborda","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2017.01.037","article-title":"Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants on Inflammation, Thrombosis, and Autonomic Imbalance in Subjects at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease","volume":"223","author":"Chen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e368","DOI":"10.1016\/S2542-5196(17)30166-3","article-title":"Cardiorespiratory Health Effects of Particulate Ambient Air Pollution Exposure in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"1","author":"Newell","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lancet Planet Health"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1561","DOI":"10.1038\/s41380-020-00885-2","article-title":"Prenatal Air Pollution Influences Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder by Modulating Mitochondrial Physiology","volume":"26","author":"Frye","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"800","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaneurol.2021.1335","article-title":"Association of NO2 and Other Air Pollution Exposures with the Risk of Parkinson Disease","volume":"78","author":"Jo","year":"2021","journal-title":"JAMA Neurol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdermsci.2014.08.008","article-title":"Pollution and Skin: From Epidemiological and Mechanistic Studies to Clinical Implications","volume":"76","author":"Krutmann","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Dermatol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"278","article-title":"la Efectos adversos de la exposici\u00f3n prenatal al material particulado del aire sobre el feto y el reci\u00e9n nacido","volume":"35","author":"Ossa","year":"2021","journal-title":"Iatreia"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Instituto Nacional de Salud, and Observatorio Nacional de Salud (2018). Carga de Enfermedad Ambiental En Colombia. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, F\u00edsicas y Naturales, Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, F\u00edsicas y Naturales."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Instituto de Hidrolog\u00eda, Meteorolog\u00eda y Estudios Ambientales\u2014IDEAM, and Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (2022). Bolet\u00edn Especial de Indicadores Nacionales. Calidad Del Aire Periodo 2018-2022, IDEAM."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.52025.1","article-title":"Local Attributable Burden Disease to PM 2.5 Ambient Air Pollution in Medell\u00edn, Colombia, 2010\u20132016","volume":"10","author":"Nieto","year":"2021","journal-title":"F1000Res"},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Statista Latin America (2024, January 05). Most Polluted Cities by PM2.5 Concentration 2022. Available online: https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1029132\/latin-america-air-pollution-city\/."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1007\/s11270-023-06155-5","article-title":"Physicochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effect of Particulate Matter (PM10)","volume":"234","author":"Porras","year":"2023","journal-title":"Water Air Soil Pollut."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"\u00c1rea Metropolitana del Valle de Aburr\u00e1 (2024, January 17). Calidad del Aire, Available online: https:\/\/www.metropol.gov.co:443\/ambiental\/calidad-del-aire."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"\u00c1rea Metropolitana del Valle de Aburr\u00e1 (2023). Plan de Acci\u00f3n Implementaci\u00f3n Del Plan Operacional Para Enfrentar Episodios de Contaminaci\u00f3n Atmosf\u00e9rica (POECA), En El Valle de Aburr\u00e1, \u00c1rea Metropolitana Del Valle De Aburr\u00e1."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Medell\u00edn C\u00f3movamos (2024, January 17). Valle de Aburr\u00e1: Entre Prevenciones, Alertas y Retos por la Gobernanza del Aire. Available online: https:\/\/www.medellincomovamos.org\/valle-de-aburra-entre-prevenciones-alertas-y-retos-por-la-gobernanza-del-aire."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105400","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2019.105400","article-title":"Interventions to Reduce Ambient Air Pollution and Their Effects on Health: An Abridged Cochrane Systematic Review","volume":"135","author":"Burns","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Int."},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"7","article-title":"Physicians\u2019 Attitude toward Their Ethical Responsibility Regarding Air Pollution: A Qualitative Research","volume":"10","author":"Saeeditehrani","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Med. Ethics Hist. Med."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Assi, H.I., Meouchy, P., El Mahmoud, A., Massouh, A., Bou Zerdan, M., Alameh, I., Chamseddine, N., Kazarian, H., Zeineldine, S., and Saliba, N.A. (2022). A Survey on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Lebanese Physicians Regarding Air Pollution. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19137907"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"478","DOI":"10.1177\/0253717620946111","article-title":"Designing and Conducting Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Surveys in Psychiatry: Practical Guidance","volume":"42","author":"Andrade","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J. Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maibach, E.W., Chadwick, A., McBride, D., Chuk, M., Ebi, K.L., and Balbus, J. (2008). Climate Change and Local Public Health in the United States: Preparedness, Programs and Perceptions of Local Public Health Department Directors. PLoS ONE, 3.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0002838"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1834","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph120201834","article-title":"Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of the Relationship between Air Pollution and Children\u2019s Respiratory Health in Shanghai, China","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e3657161","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/3657161","article-title":"Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Air Pollution in Accra, Ghana: A Critical Survey","volume":"2020","author":"Odonkor","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Environ. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Qian, X., Xu, G., Li, L., Shen, Y., He, T., Liang, Y., Yang, Z., Zhou, W.W., and Xu, J. (2016). Knowledge and Perceptions of Air Pollution in Ningbo, China. BMC Public Health, 16.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-3788-0"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1955","DOI":"10.1111\/all.15224","article-title":"World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guideline Recommendations: Executive Summary","volume":"77","author":"Goshua","year":"2022","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"631","DOI":"10.1007\/s10653-015-9720-1","article-title":"Air Pollution and Public Health: Emerging Hazards and Improved Understanding of Risk","volume":"37","author":"Kelly","year":"2015","journal-title":"Environ. Geochem. Health"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1440-1843.2011.02065.x","article-title":"Monitoring Air Pollution: Use of Early Warning Systems for Public Health","volume":"17","author":"Kelly","year":"2012","journal-title":"Respirology"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhao, M., Zhang, M., Ying, J., Wang, S., Shi, Y., Li, H., Li, Y., Xing, Z., and Sun, J. (2019). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Information Demand in Relation to Haze in China: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Public Health, 19.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7772-3"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100406","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhip.2023.100406","article-title":"Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception of Air Pollution in Ireland","volume":"6","author":"Quintyne","year":"2023","journal-title":"Public Health Pract."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kemba, H., Tshifhiwa, N., and Vusumuz, N. (2020). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Tertiary Education Students in Regard to Air Pollution in Windhoek, Namibia: A Cross Sectional Study. Res. Sq.","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-34388\/v2"},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"146","article-title":"Knowledge of, Attitudes toward, and Practices Regarding Indoor Pollution at Kuwait University","volume":"6","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Geosci. Environ. Prot."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2014CDC (2024, February 13). Non-Occupational Uses of Respiratory Protection\u2013What Public Health Organizations and Users Need to Know 2018, Available online: https:\/\/blogs.cdc.gov\/niosh-science-blog\/2018\/01\/04\/respirators-public-use\/."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1080\/15459620701346925","article-title":"Simulated Workplace Protection Factors for Half-Facepiece Respiratory Protective Devices","volume":"4","author":"Duling","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Occup. Environ. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10398","DOI":"10.3390\/nu7125539","article-title":"Nutritional Solutions to Reduce Risks of Negative Health Impacts of Air Pollution","volume":"7","author":"Holguin","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x","article-title":"Water, Hydration and Health","volume":"68","author":"Popkin","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nutr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barthelemy, J., Sanchez, K., Miller, M.R., and Khreis, H. (2020). New Opportunities to Mitigate the Burden of Disease Caused by Traffic Related Air Pollution: Antioxidant-Rich Diets and Supplements. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17020630"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1186\/s12931-018-0785-0","article-title":"Pollution and Respiratory Disease: Can Diet or Supplements Help? A Review","volume":"19","author":"Whyand","year":"2018","journal-title":"Respir. Res."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4535142","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/4535142","article-title":"Understanding Public Views about Air Quality and Air Pollution Sources in the San Joaquin Valley, California","volume":"2017","author":"Cisneros","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Environ. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"Brase, L.E.E. (2019). Gary Air Quality as a Common Resource. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improving Air Quality, CRC Press."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"UN Environment Program\u2014UNEP (2024, February 21). Collective Action Needed to Improve Quality of the Air We Share. Available online: http:\/\/www.unep.org\/news-and-stories\/story\/collective-action-needed-improve-quality-air-we-share."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"487","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejor.2022.02.034","article-title":"Managing the Tragedy of Commons and Polluting Emissions: A Unified View","volume":"303","author":"Feichtinger","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. J. Oper. Res."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.econlet.2016.03.015","article-title":"On the (in)Stability of Nonlinear Feedback Solutions in a Dynamic Duopoly with Renewable Resource Exploitation","volume":"143","author":"Lambertini","year":"2016","journal-title":"Econ. Lett."},{"key":"ref_53","first-page":"193","article-title":"Future Research Needs Associated with the Assessment of Potential Human Health Risks from Exposure to Toxic Ambient Air Pollutants","volume":"102","author":"Schuetzle","year":"1994","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1256\/wea.243.02","article-title":"Atmospheric Pollution: History, Science, and Regulation by Mark Z. Jacobson. 2002. Cambridge University Press. xi + 399 pp. Paperback, Hardback","volume":"58","author":"Burt","year":"2003","journal-title":"Weather"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1016\/0749-5978(91)90020-T","article-title":"The Theory of Planned Behavior","volume":"50","author":"Ajzen","year":"1991","journal-title":"Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Colombo, S.L., Chiarella, S.G., Raffone, A., and Simione, L. (2023). Understanding the Environmental Attitude-Behaviour Gap: The Moderating Role of Dispositional Mindfulness. Sustainability, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/su15097285"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000003861","article-title":"Addressing Climate Change and Its Effects on Human Health: A Call to Action for Medical Schools","volume":"96","author":"Goshua","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acad. Med."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e535","DOI":"10.1016\/S2542-5196(22)00090-0","article-title":"Pollution and Health: A Progress Update","volume":"6","author":"Fuller","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet Planet. Health"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/21\/6\/789\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T15:00:01Z","timestamp":1760108401000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/21\/6\/789"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,17]]},"references-count":58,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,6]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph21060789"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph21060789","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,17]]}}}