An Educational Program to Improve Awareness of Nursing Students About Adverse Health Effects of Climate Change

Abstract

Background: Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humankind today and a great challenge for the health sector. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of an educational program to improve awareness of nursing students about adverse health effects of climate change. Study Design: A quasi- experimental design (pre and post-test) was utilized in this study. Setting: This study conducted in Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University. Sample: A convenient sample of 200 nursing students from 4th year was used. Tools: One tool was used, a self-administered questionnaire sheet that consists of four parts: Demographic data, nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and reported practices regarding climate change. Results: There was an improvement of the studied nursing students’ level of knowledge, attitudes and reported practices regarding climate change pre and post educational program with a highly statistically significant difference from (42 %, 37 %, and 60%) pre educational program, compared to (94.5%, 83.5%, and 93.5%) post educational program due to the effect of educational program implementation respectively.Conclusion: The educational program proved a significant positive impact on the nursing students' total knowledge level, attitudes and reported practices regarding climate change. Also there was a highly statistical significant correlation between nursing students' total level of knowledge, their attitudes & reported practices regarding climate change after implementing the program. Recommendations: Green educational programs about climate change including seminar, conference and workshop should be organized especially in universities to increase students’ awareness level. Dissemination of health educational booklet about adverse health effect of climate change.