PREDICTING RADON TESTING AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES

To determine covariates of radon testing behavior, we surveyed by mail a random sample of all Boston University employees (N = 915) six to n ine months after they had been informed of the availability of radon t esting services through the University's medical center. The response rate was 58%. Analysis suggests blue collar workers were underrepresen ted within the response rate. Slightly more than half of the responden ts (51%) were men. The majority (69%) were under the age of 45. Twenty -seven percent of the respondents (N = 143) had tested their homes for radon. Bivariate analysis revealed important differences between rado n testers and nontesters. Testers were 12 times more likely to be home owners than renters (p = 0.00), and were more knowledgeable about rad on's characteristics and testing procedures (p = 0.00). Testers were m ore likely to view radon as a serious problem (p = 0.00), to consider radon testing efficacious (p = 0.00), and to consider themselves susce ptible to exposure (p = 0.00). Testers were also less likely to percei ve barriers to radon testing, Mie used logistic regression to compare the usefulness of the Health Belief Model and the Diffusion of Innovat ions Model in predicting radon testing. We concluded that the knowledg e deficits and barriers to radon testing identified in this study shou ld be targeted in radon educational interventions.