Co‐Designed Exposure Protocol in the Study of Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance Attributed to Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

The hypothesis of an electromagnetic origin of idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) has been widely investigated by provocation studies, which consist of deliberately exposing people with IEI-EMF in laboratory settings to particular EMF to observe volunteers' reactions. In the majority of these studies, reactions have been found to be independent of exposure. However, most of these studies suffer from design and methodological limitations that might bias their findings or reduce their precision. As provocation studies are best suited for isolating the effects of EMF, innovative protocols should be applied. In the ExpoComm project (PNREST Anses, EST/2017/2 RF/19), several innovations have been introduced: the involvement of people with IEI-EMF in the development of the protocol, the attenuation of the anxiogenic nature of the tests, the individualization of the protocol, the validation of the neutral or normal reactivity state before the test, and the use of a cocktail of real, rather than artificially generated, sources. The objective of involving people with IEI-EMF was to increase the relevance and acceptability of the protocol, while respecting technical constraints and scientific quality requirements. This paper describes the protocol resulting from the collaborative process. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020;41: 425-437.

A qualitative approach to experiential knowledge identified in focus groups aimed at co-designing a provocation test in the study of electrohypersensitivity

“…in the length of the pre-exposure rest and exposure period). All the contributions leading to the co-developed protocol has been published [ 66 ]. However, this qualitative study and the use of focus-group to the process of co-construction should undergo extensive discussion, which we will try to address here through several points.…”

“…In the discussion, we will discuss the success and the limits of the participatory approach we have implemented, which provides information on the possibility of concretely integrating experiential knowledge into scientific co-construction processes for measuring EHS. The description of the protocol co-designed and validated by the participants, as well as the analysis of the acceptability of the protocol, are the subject of a separate article and communication respectively [ 65 , 66 ].…”

An idiographic approach to Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to Electromagnetic Fields (IEI-EMF) Part II. Ecological momentary assessment of three individuals with severe IEI-EMF

“…The aforementioned studies, however, received criticism from a methodological point of view ( Dieudonné, 2020 ; Frei et al., 2010 ; Ledent et al., 2020 ; Schmiedchen et al., 2019 ). In the lack of biomarkers specific to IEI-EMF ( Belpomme et al., 2015 ; Rubin et al., 2011 ), EMF provocation test is the only accepted paradigm for experimentally testing patients' self-diagnosis.…”

“…Thus participants’ attributions and claims should not exclusively be used for the determination of the experimental parameters. Still, the majority of provocation studies used standard exposure and provocation sessions in which conditions might have been inappropriate to elicit symptoms for many participants ( Ledent et al., 2020 ; Verrender et al., 2018 ).…”

Leviers et freins à la participation à une étude d’exposition dans l’électrohypersensibilité

“…Dans une première phase, les chercheurs ont identifié les éléments à prendre en compte dans le développement d'un protocole de provocation grâce à des ateliers de discussion organisés avec des personnes EHS. Une seconde phase non achevée à ce jour (fin prévue en mars 2022) concerne les tests de provocation sur base du protocole cocréé [14].…”