Consultations in primary care for symptoms attributed to electromagnetic fields--a survey among general practitioners.

BMC public health · 2006 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 5099

Study snapshot

PublicationBMC public health · 2006

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Five percent of the Swiss population attribute symptoms to electromagnetic fields (EMF). General practitioners (GPs) might play a key role in recognising an emerging health risk, since they are the first to observe and follow up persons who attribute symptoms to EMF. It is unclear to what extent EMFs have become an issue in general practice and which experiences GPs report from the consultations. METHODS: We conducted telephone interviews in a random sample of GPs in Switzerland in order to assess the frequency of consultations in primary care due to EMF and the GPs' experience with these patients. RESULTS: 342 general practitioners were interviewed, corresponding to a response rate of 28.2%. 69% of the GPs reported at least one consultation due to EMF, but GPs with a certificate in complementary medicine were much more likely to report EMF consultations. The median of EMF consultation numbers within one year was three. An overview of the most recent EMF-related consultation per GP yielded sleep disorders, headaches and fatigue as the most often reported symptoms and mobile phone base stations, power lines and the own use of mobile phones as the main EMF sources suspected to be associated to symptoms. GPs judged the association between EMF and the symptoms to be plausible in 54% of the cases. There was no combination of symptoms and EMF sources that was remarkably and consistently judged to be a plausible cause of the symptoms. CONCLUSION: In our survey, GPs often judged the association between the health problems and the suspected exposure to be plausible. This plausibility assessment seems to be based on grounds of preventive positions in a situation of scientific uncertainty. More research effort is needed to obtain more insight on a potential association between long term EMF exposure and unspecific symptoms.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionunclear

PopulationGeneral practitioners (GPs) in Switzerland

Sample size342

Exposurewithin one year (consultation counts); long term exposure mentioned as research need

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In telephone interviews with 342 Swiss GPs (28.2% response rate), 69% reported at least one consultation due to EMF, with a median of three EMF-related consultations per year. In the most recent EMF-related consultation per GP, sleep disorders, headaches, and fatigue were most often reported, and base stations, power lines, and personal mobile phone use were the main suspected sources; GPs judged the EMF–symptom association plausible in 54% of cases, without a consistent symptom–source pattern judged plausible.

Outcomes measured

Frequency of EMF-attributed consultations in primary care
Reported symptoms in most recent EMF-related consultation (sleep disorders, headaches, fatigue)
Suspected EMF sources in most recent consultation (mobile phone base stations, power lines, own mobile phone use)
GP judgment of plausibility of association between EMF and symptoms

Limitations

Cross-sectional survey based on GP self-report
Low response rate (28.2%)
Assesses consultations and perceived plausibility rather than objective exposure or health effects
No specific exposure metrics (frequency, SAR) reported

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone base stations; power lines; own use of mobile phones",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "within one year (consultation counts); long term exposure mentioned as research need"
  },
  "population": "General practitioners (GPs) in Switzerland",
  "sample_size": 342,
  "outcomes": [
    "Frequency of EMF-attributed consultations in primary care",
    "Reported symptoms in most recent EMF-related consultation (sleep disorders, headaches, fatigue)",
    "Suspected EMF sources in most recent consultation (mobile phone base stations, power lines, own mobile phone use)",
    "GP judgment of plausibility of association between EMF and symptoms"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In telephone interviews with 342 Swiss GPs (28.2% response rate), 69% reported at least one consultation due to EMF, with a median of three EMF-related consultations per year. In the most recent EMF-related consultation per GP, sleep disorders, headaches, and fatigue were most often reported, and base stations, power lines, and personal mobile phone use were the main suspected sources; GPs judged the EMF–symptom association plausible in 54% of cases, without a consistent symptom–source pattern judged plausible.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional survey based on GP self-report",
    "Low response rate (28.2%)",
    "Assesses consultations and perceived plausibility rather than objective exposure or health effects",
    "No specific exposure metrics (frequency, SAR) reported"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "primary care",
    "general practitioners",
    "survey",
    "telephone interview",
    "symptoms",
    "sleep disorders",
    "headache",
    "fatigue",
    "mobile phone base stations",
    "power lines",
    "mobile phone use",
    "Switzerland"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Study surveys general practitioners in their professional role about EMF-attributed consultations."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-267
PubMed: 17074080

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