Nursing Students knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Regarding Health Effect of Climate Change

Abstract

Background: Climate change is considered one of the biggest global health threats in 21 st century. Climate change is caused by human activities and results in a rise in temperature, precipitation, sea level, and extreme weather events. Climate change has already affected and will continue to affect population health, such as malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria, dengue fever, injuries, and deaths. Therefore, health professionals must become expert resources for patient communities and policymakers. The study aimed to assess nursing students' knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding health effect of climate change. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was utilized in this study. This study was conducted at faculty of nursing, Mansoura university, Egypt. A convenient sample of 439 fourth level undergraduate nursing students. Four tools were developed by the researcher as: socio-demographic and academic characteristics of students; knowledge; attitude and practice of students regarding climate change. Results: The study revealed that more than two thirds of studied students had poor knowledge regarding climate change and poor practice regarding human causes of climate change. Additionally, it was found that more than one third of studied students had moderate score level of practice regarding adaptation to health effect of climate change. Conclusion: This study concluded that; most of the studied students had a poor level of knowledge and practice regarding climate change and less than one third of the studied students agreed that issues about climate change should be included in nursing curriculum. Recommendation: the researcher recommended integration of health effect of climate change into nursing education.