How to Use This Course

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Introduction

The goal of Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) is to increase the primary care provider’s knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to help in evaluation and treatment of potentially exposed patients. This CSEM focuses on radon toxicity.

Availability

Two versions of the Radon Toxicity CSEM are available.

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Instructions

To make the most effective use of this course:

  • Take the Initial Check to assess your current knowledge about radon toxicity.
  • Read the title, learning objectives, text, and key points in each section.
  • Complete the progress check exercises at the end of each section and check your answers.
  • If you wish to obtain continuing education credit, complete and submit your assessment and posttest response online. Continuing education certificates can be printed immediately on completion.
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Instructional Format

This course is designed to help you learn efficiently. Topics are clearly labeled so that you can skip sections or quickly scan sections with which you are already familiar. This labeling will also allow you to use this training material as a handy reference. To help you identify and absorb important content quickly, each section is structured as follows:

Instructional Format
Section Element Purpose
Title Serves as a “focus question” that you should be able to answer after completing the section
Learning Objectives Describes specific content addressed in each section and focuses your attention on important points
Text Provides the information you need to answer the focus question(s) and achieve the learning objectives
Key Points Highlights important issues and helps you review
Progress Check exercises Enables you to test yourself to determine whether you have mastered the learning objectives
Answers Provides feedback to ensure you understand the content and can locate information in the text
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Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Radon Toxicity CSEM, you will be able to:

Learning Objectives
Content Area Objectives
What is Radon?
  • Explain what radon is, and
  • Describe the main source of human exposure to alpha radiation.
Where is Radon Found?
  • Identify the main source of indoor radon, and
  • Describe how you can determine whether you are exposed to increased levels of radon in your home.
What are the Routes of Exposure to Radon?
  • Identify the most important route of exposure to radon.
Who is at Risk of Radon Exposure?
  • Identify the population with the highest risk of exposure to increased levels of radon gas,
  • Describe those at risk from exposure to radon as an environmental cause of lung cancer deaths, and
  • Describe the estimated risk of lung cancer from radon exposure for persons who smoke cigarettes as compared with those who have never smoked.
What are the Standards and Regulations for Environmental Radon Levels?
  • Identify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended maximum indoor residential radon level.
What are the Potential Health Effects from Exposure to Increased Levels of Radon?
  • Describe the primary adverse health effect from exposure to increased radon levels.
How do you Clinically Assess a Patient Potentially Exposed to Increased Levels of Radon?
  • Describe the clinical assessment of a patient potentially exposed to increased radon levels.
How Should Patients Potentially Exposed to Increased Radon Levels be Treated and Managed?
  • Describe the clinical management of patients potentially exposed to increased radon levels.
  • Describe appropriate referrals for positive findings during clinical assessment.
What Instructions Should Be Given to Patients to Reduce Potential Health Risks from Exposure to Radon?
  • Describe instructions to patients on preventive measures they can take to reduce potential health risks from exposure to radon.
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