Occupational cancer risk factors and awareness levels among air traffic controllers

Tuncal, Arif · 2024 · Crossref

DOI: 10.14687/jhs.v21i4.6505

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Summary

This study investigates the occupational cancer risk factors and awareness levels among air traffic controllers (ATCs), addressing a gap in literature regarding this specific profession. While ATCs are critical to aviation safety, their work involves exposure to stress, workload, fatigue, shift work, circadian rhythm disorders, and electromagnetic fields, all of which are linked to increased cancer risk. The research aims to determine ATCs’ perceptions of these factors, their awareness of cancer risks, and how these variables correlate with demographic factors like age and gender. The study employed a survey method involving 392 ATCs working in Turkey, representing a 20.61% response rate from the Turkish Air Traffic Controllers Association. Data were collected via an online questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale, covering demographic information, perceived stress, workload, fatigue, and cancer awareness. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA, were conducted using IBM SPSS V27 to assess differences across age and gender groups. Key findings indicate that perceptions of stress, workload, and fatigue increase with age. High responsibility and time pressure were identified as the most significant stress factors (40.3%), followed by organizational factors (25.5%) and workload (21.4%). All participants identified stress, circadian rhythm disorders, and electromagnetic field exposure as cancer risk factors. Notably, female ATCs demonstrated higher levels of cancer awareness and access to information compared to males. Similar trends were observed among individuals over 40, who reported higher stress levels and greater awareness. The average perceived stress level was moderate (3.11/5), but significantly higher in older age groups, particularly those aged 50 and above (3.28/5). Smoking rates among ATCs (29.1%) were comparable to the general Turkish population, while only 19.6% exercised regularly. The study concludes that occupational risks significantly impact ATC health, with risks intensifying with age. It emphasizes the need for risk management practices aligned with international regulations and suggests reducing service time to enable early retirement. Future research should analyze medical certificates and histories to identify specific health problems. The findings highlight the importance of improving working conditions and developing strategies to enhance health awareness and mitigate cancer risks in this high-stress profession.

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discover success Crossref 1 2026-06-17
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promote success 1 2026-06-17
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tag success vector_similarity 6 2026-06-18
verify success 1 2026-06-26

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