Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment
Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement
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Canadian Association of
Nurses for the Environment
Association canadienne des infirmières
et infirmiers pour l'environnement
Click here to access the radon assessment tool
Please click the following thumbnails to download the PDF containing the english and french versions of the posters in tabloid size (11" x 17").
Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Exposure to high levels of radon at home results in an increased risk of developing lung cancer2. The risk of cancer depends on the level of radon and how long a person is exposed to those levels. Radon is an odourless, invisible radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water in the ground2. Radon gas can move from the ground and get into homes and buildings through small cracks or holes and build up to high levels. Over time, breathing in high levels of radon can cause lung cancer2.
This assessment tool is designed to provide your patient with education regarding the cause and risks of radon gas exposure, with steps to take to test their home. In addition it provides relevant resources for your patient(s) and those residing in their home. At the end of the assessment, your patient will be provided with a list of resources that they can save as a pdf or print out for further review. They will also be provided with links where they can access additional information.
Utilize motivational interviewing and brief intervention to conduct a radon gas exposure screening To be able to explain the link between radon gas and lung cancer to your patient and answer questions related to their concerns about lung cancer.
Brief intervention is a technique commonly associated with unhealthy or risky behaviour as a means of bringing about change in that behaviour6. The brief intervention screens or identifies an individual's specific risk through a validated tool, often a survey. Once the assessment is complete, feedback is offered based on the responses collected in the screening (or survey)6. This technique relies on personalised feedback related to the individual's specific risk6.
Motivational interviewing is based on a brief intervention. The aim of this strategy is to be non-judgmental and non-confrontational5. To be successful, feedback must be objective and non-judgmental and based on information provided by the person during the interview. Motivational interviewing aims to provide a programme from assessment to the proposal of possible solutions to prevent or treat the problem in question for individuals who are more or less ready to change5. Some people may never have thought about the risk in question or about making changes to their lives, while others have thought about it but have not taken any steps towards change5. Others may have already started to make changes but are unsure of the next steps. Ultimately, the aim of motivational interviewing is to get people to think differently and to consider the possibilities for change that are available to them5.
As a provider, it is important to know where you can access reliable information to better educate yourself and those in your care. Please explore the following resources:
