Planetary health action framework: A case study

Abstract

Planetary Health (PH) action is urgent to avoid the collapse of Earth's systems that sustain human health. PH care has been proposed as an approach to improve health equity and reduce healthcare´s ecological footprint. This paper presents the conceptual framework of patient-centered PH care as essential for PH action at the community level. We examine and reflect on one primary care clinical case through 8 lenses: 1) Actor-Network Theory, 2) Evidence-based medicine, 3) Patient-Centered Clinical Method; 4) Principles of Primary Care, 5) Proposed new primary care derivate principle of PH care, 6) the WONCA´s (World Organization of Family Doctors) core competencies tree, 7) WONCA´'s curriculum, and 8) Sustainable Development Goal 3. This case offers insights into functions of primary care that mitigate, adapt and build resilience to the challenges of climate emergency and Anthropocene. It “connects-the-dots” to propose a new identity of primary care, elaborate a blueprint for patient-centered PH care and a roadmap for PH action at the community level.

Systems approach in planetary health education for medical students: a mixed methods study

“…However, this study adds to the literature by reflecting on the successes and challenges related to the utilized questionnaire, which will serve as a basis for the development of enhanced ones in the future. Future educational interventions on planetary health should consider allocating more time for teaching this subject to students, focusing on listening to and dialoguing more with students, exploring the domain of "movement building and system change" more thoroughly, and considering interviewing real patients in a Primary Health Care (PHC) context, where the "minute for the planet" individual approach [ 33 ] and community approaches can be explored more closely to their territory. Future studies should also consider assessing how students perceive themselves as agents of change in their current role as students.…”

Developing Trusted Voices for Planetary Health: Findings from a Clinicians for Planetary Health (C4PH) Workshop

“…This can come as simply as a switch in a prescription, as Dr. Barros has shown. Dr. Barros also introduced his concept of "one minute for the planet", where he dedicates a short amount of time embedded within each clinic visit to advise each patient on what they can do to improve their health and reduce their impact on the planet [44]. In the previous example, Dr. Barros explained how some inhalers produce much fewer emissions than others and that our individual actions can make a difference in preventing the worsening of air pollution (which can trigger her asthma) in the future, such as by eating less red meat [45,46].…”