Predictors of Risk Perception Among General Practitioners and Paediatricians Concerning Potential Health Effects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields

PAPER manual Bioelectromagnetics 2026 Cross-sectional study Effect: unclear Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1002/bem.70047 PMID: 41744411 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Scientific evidence for health issues due to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is limited but there is considerable concern in the population about such effects. Physicians are seen as an important multiplier to the general population. The presented work intends to identify predictors of risk perception concerning EMF among general practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2023 among 292 (response rate: 6%) GPs and paediatricians across Germany. Logistic regression modelling was applied to examine the relationship between different variables (technology acceptance, media health literacy, conspiracy belief, trust in organisations/institutions and environmental worry) and the physicians' health-related risk perception regarding EMF. Ninety-one participants (31%) indicated to believe in health issues as a consequence of EMF exposure. Higher EMF risk perception was indicated by physicians with high conspiracy belief compared to their peers with less conspiracy belief (odds ratio [OR]: 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81-4.13). High trust in bodies like WHO (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.35-0.82) or the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28-0.76) was associated with lower EMF risk perception. Overall, we observed considerable evidence that conspiracy belief and trust in organisations may predict EMF risk perception. Bioelectromagnetics. 00:00-00, 2026. © 2026 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Cross-sectional study

Effect direction

unclear

Population

General practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians in Germany

Sample size

292

Exposure

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a 2023 cross-sectional survey of 292 German GPs and paediatricians, 31% reported believing in health issues as a consequence of EMF exposure. Higher conspiracy belief was associated with higher EMF risk perception (OR 2.92; 95% CI 1.81–4.13), while higher trust in WHO (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.35–0.82) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.28–0.76) was associated with lower EMF risk perception.

Outcomes measured

Physicians' health-related risk perception regarding EMF
Belief in health issues as a consequence of EMF exposure

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (associations; no causal inference)
Low response rate (6%)

Suggested hubs

who-icnirp (0.6)
Trust in WHO was examined as a predictor of EMF risk perception among physicians.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "General practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians in Germany",
    "sample_size": 292,
    "outcomes": [
        "Physicians' health-related risk perception regarding EMF",
        "Belief in health issues as a consequence of EMF exposure"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a 2023 cross-sectional survey of 292 German GPs and paediatricians, 31% reported believing in health issues as a consequence of EMF exposure. Higher conspiracy belief was associated with higher EMF risk perception (OR 2.92; 95% CI 1.81–4.13), while higher trust in WHO (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.35–0.82) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.28–0.76) was associated with lower EMF risk perception.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design (associations; no causal inference)",
        "Low response rate (6%)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "EMF",
        "risk perception",
        "general practitioners",
        "paediatricians",
        "Germany",
        "conspiracy belief",
        "trust in institutions",
        "WHO",
        "Federal Office for Radiation Protection",
        "media health literacy",
        "technology acceptance",
        "environmental worry"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.59999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Trust in WHO was examined as a predictor of EMF risk perception among physicians."
        }
    ]
}

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

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