Attitudes, Perceptions and Geo-Spatial Analysis of Water Quality and Individual Health Status in a High-Fracking Region

Abstract

The expansion of unconventional oil and gas development (UD) across the US continues to be at the center of debates regarding safety to health and the environment. This study evaluated the water quality of private water wells in the Eagle Ford Shale within the context of community members perception. Community members (n=75) were surveyed regarding health status and perceptions of drinking water quality. Water samples (n=19) were collected from private wells and tested for a variety of water quality parameters. Of the private wells sampled, 8 had exceedences of MCLs for drinking water standards. Geospatial analysis showed the majority of well owners who did have exceedances self-reported their health status as poor. Surveys showed that the majority of respondents received their water from a municipal source and were significantly more distrustful of their water source than of those on private wells. The data also showed a high number of people self-reporting health problems without a healthcare provider’s diagnosis. Attitudes and perceptions of water quality play an important role in the overall perceived health status of community members in high fracking regions, stressing the importance of transparency and communication by the UD industry.

Impact of educational programme on patient's health outcomes following open heart surgeries

“…However, more than 610,000 individuals die annually from heart disease in the United States, accounting for one-fourth of all deaths, and approximately 30.3 million individuals in 2018 from the United States were estimated to have heart disease to mitigate these complications, cardiac surgery is regularly carried out. Cardiac surgery types include coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), repair or removal of the heart valve, heart transplant, and installation of machines or artificial hearts for ventricular assistance (Stigler Granados et al, 2019). So, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a significant indicator of long-term well-being, influenced by environmental factors such as family, culture, community norms, and available resources that better and earlier diagnostics and clinical management of congenital heart disease (CHD) have led to decreased mortality and increased achieved outcomes (Ladak et al, 2020).…”

“…Beyond longevity, the impact of cardiac surgery on day-today functioning is incredibly salient to patients, their spouses, and their families. On the other hand, the multidisciplinary team should plan patient care before, during, and after postopen-heart surgery counting the knowledge of self-care for postopen-heart patients to improve their quality of life (Suwanakitch et al, 2019). Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the implementing instructional scheme on patients' health outcomes following patients' open-heart surgeries.…”