Trachoma, a bacterial infection of the eye, remains the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Education programs help curb the spread of disease and several programs are student-led. This study evaluates a similar short-term education program focused on transmission and prevention of trachoma.A one-week education program was enacted by students from Texas focusing on prevention and transmission of trachoma. Populations included 30 members of an established women's group and 89 elementary students in Aleto Wondo, Ethiopia. A pretest was administered to evaluate baseline knowledge of this illness. After program completion, a posttest was administered to evaluate changes in knowledge and, thereby, effectiveness of the education program.Survey results showed improvement in knowledge in both children and adults regarding the etiology of trachoma; average pretest to posttest scores improved from 48% to 74% correct in adolescents and from 57% to 90% correct in adults. Both groups showed improved knowledge regarding transmission of trachoma; average pretest to posttest scores improved from 39% to 95% correct in adolescents and from 34% to 83% correct in adults. The children showed improved knowledge regarding prevention of trachoma. However, we did not show a significant improvement in knowledge regarding prevention of trachoma in the adults.Our work shows that this education program can be effective in increasing knowledge and prevention of trachoma, particularly among children. We hope that our education program can set an example of successful educational intervention for other student-led trips to endemic areas around the world.
Outcome and Evaluation: We reviewed the current curriculum to determine which courses would be the best fit for climate change and health education, where we noted that a freshman and a senior course had the most relevant course content. We incorporated short but relevant teaching points about climate change into these selected didactic and clinical courses. Within the first semester of implementation, all freshman nursing students and half of the senior class received one or more lectures on climate change and health.Additionally, we piloted climate change and health as the focus for a senior-level community health course. Topics addressed in this course included climate science, effects of climate change on food systems, environmental health issues and climate change within the social determinants of health. Students worked with a non-profit that addresses climate change in Detroit, collaborating on the development of fact sheets targeted towards community members about health issues related to climate change, specifically on mold due to flooding and on heat emergencies.Faculty development activities were also conducted. All faculty received information about climate science and health, curriculum insertion points, and resources for teaching climate change.Going Forward: Our goals are to collect pre and post education data, as well as to develop metrics that measure climate change and health knowledge. As frontline providers for illnesses and injuries stemming from climate change, nurses must be prepared to address these increasingly common health concerns. Climate health education is relevant for nursing education globally.
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