PREDICTORS OF HOME RADON TESTING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TESTING PROMOTION PROGRAMS

Four data sets (total N = 3,329) are examined to identify the predicto rs of home radon testing. The data, interpreted in terms of a stage mo del of radon testing behavior, reveal that the variables predicting tr ansitions between stages change as people move from one stage to the n ext. Thinking about radon testing (vs. never having even considered te sting) is best predicted by general radon knowledge and by knowing oth er people who are concerned or have tested. Once contemplating testing , the decision to test is most closely related to the perceived likeli hood of a home radon problem. Finally, there are few differences betwe en people who say they have decided to test and those who have already tested. Instead situational factors-including difficulties in locatin g and choosing among test kits-appear to constitute the final barrier to testing. The ways in which these findings might assist the design o f radon outreach programs are discussed, and specific outreach recomme ndations are advanced.