Knowledge-practice decoupling in residential chemical indoor-air pollution: a cross-sectional survey in Lebanon
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Public Health, Canadian University Dubai
- 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University
- 3Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science
- 4Department of Environmental and Public Health, Abu Dhabi University
Abstract
Introduction: Residential chemical indoor-air pollution arises from combustion, smoking residues, fragranced products, cleaning chemistry, pesticides, building materials and ventilation behavior, yet household-level evidence from Lebanon remains limited. This study assessed knowledge, preventive attitudes, household practices and symptom recognition, with particular attention to whether knowledge translated into exposure-relevant behavior.
Methods: This secondary cross-sectional analysis used a non-probability convenience sample of 495 completed self-administered questionnaires collected between 8 November 2025 and 10 April 2026. Evidence-aligned scoring was used for knowledge and preventive attitudes, while practice items were separated into mitigation and source-frequency indices. Descriptive statistics, internal-consistency estimates, Wilson 95% confidence intervals, Spearman correlations, robust linear models and robust logistic models were used.
Results: Respondents were predominantly young, female and university educated. Mean knowledge and preventive-attitude scores were 47.3 and 48.8 on 0-100 scales; the mean mitigation index was 66.3 and the mean source-frequency index was 58.4. Knowledge was moderately associated with preventive attitudes but only weakly associated with mitigation behavior. Higher preventive-attitude scores were associated with lower source-frequency, lower odds of regular indoor smoking and a higher mitigation-minus-source difference score. Symptom recognition was stronger for respiratory and neurological than for ocular, irritant and dermatological manifestations.
Discussion: The findings indicate knowledge-practice decoupling within this sample: mitigation behaviors coexisted with frequent source-related activities, and knowledge alone did not explain household practice. Because the study used a non-probability, self-reported cross-sectional sample, results are sample-specific and do not establish national prevalence or causal effects. Source-specific risk communication and representative studies incorporating objective exposure measures are warranted.
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BibTeX
@article{ghach2026knowledgepractice,
title = {{Knowledge-practice decoupling in residential chemical indoor-air pollution: a cross-sectional survey in Lebanon}},
author = {Wissam Ghach and Rina Salhab and Jana K Alwattar and Sara Abou Ibrahim and Nisreen Alwan and Emran Alotaibi},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1971900},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1971900/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Knowledge-practice decoupling in residential chemical indoor-air pollution: a cross-sectional survey in Lebanon
AU - Wissam Ghach
AU - Rina Salhab
AU - Jana K Alwattar
AU - Sara Abou Ibrahim
AU - Nisreen Alwan
AU - Emran Alotaibi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1971900
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1971900/full
AB - Introduction: Residential chemical indoor-air pollution arises from combustion, smoking residues, fragranced products, cleaning chemistry, pesticides, building materials and ventilation behavior, yet household-level evidence from Lebanon remains limited. This study assessed knowledge, preventive attitudes, household practices and symptom recognition, with particular attention to whether knowledge translated into exposure-relevant behavior. Methods: This secondary cross-sectional analysis used a non-probability convenience sample of 495 completed self-administered questionnaires collected between 8 November 2025 and 10 April 2026. Evidence-aligned scoring was used for knowledge and preventive attitudes, while practice items were separated into mitigation and source-frequency indices. Descriptive statistics, internal-consistency estimates, Wilson 95% confidence intervals, Spearman correlations, robust linear models and robust logistic models were used. Results: Respondents were predominantly young, female and university educated. Mean knowledge and preventive-attitude scores were 47.3 and 48.8 on 0-100 scales; the mean mitigation index was 66.3 and the mean source-frequency index was 58.4. Knowledge was moderately associated with preventive attitudes but only weakly associated with mitigation behavior. Higher preventive-attitude scores were associated with lower source-frequency, lower odds of regular indoor smoking and a higher mitigation-minus-source difference score. Symptom recognition was stronger for respiratory and neurological than for ocular, irritant and dermatological manifestations. Discussion: The findings indicate knowledge-practice decoupling within this sample: mitigation behaviors coexisted with frequent source-related activities, and knowledge alone did not explain household practice. Because the study used a non-probability, self-reported cross-sectional sample, results are sample-specific and do not establish national prevalence or causal effects. Source-specific risk communication and representative studies incorporating objective exposure measures are warranted.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -