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

## TL;DR

This study explores what influences doctors' beliefs about the health risks of electromagnetic fields, finding that conspiracy beliefs and low trust in institutions predict higher risk perception.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific psychological and institutional factors that influence physicians' risk perception of EMF.

## Key findings

- Higher EMF risk perception is linked to higher levels of conspiracy belief among physicians.
- Trust in organizations like WHO and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection is associated with lower EMF risk perception.
- The study highlights the role of psychological and institutional trust factors in shaping physicians' risk perception.

## 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.

There are discrepancies between the level of scientific knowledge about electromagnetic fields (EMF) and EMF risk perception in the general public. For communicating scientific evidence to the public, it is important to understand physicians' risk perception and its determinants.Conspiracy belief and low trust in bodies like WHO predicted higher EMF risk perception among general practitioners and paediatricians.The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the risk perception of EMF among physicians and contributes to improving risk communication.

There are discrepancies between the level of scientific knowledge about electromagnetic fields (EMF) and EMF risk perception in the general public. For communicating scientific evidence to the public, it is important to understand physicians' risk perception and its determinants.

Conspiracy belief and low trust in bodies like WHO predicted higher EMF risk perception among general practitioners and paediatricians.

The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the risk perception of EMF among physicians and contributes to improving risk communication.