Climate change and health: Changes in student environmental knowledge and awareness due to the implementation of a mandatory elective at the Medical Faculty of Ulm?

Abstract

Background and objectives: According to the World Health Organization, climate change constitutes the single greatest threat to human health. However, the health care system contributes to climate change worldwide through its high CO₂ emissions. In order to make future physicians more aware of this issue and to expand medical education to include climate-related aspects, the mandatory 28 academic hours elective "Climate Change and Health" for students of human medicine in the preclinical study stage was implemented at the Medical Faculty of Ulm in the 2020/21 winter semester. Our accompanying study investigated 1. in what form the topic of climate change can be successfully integrated into the study of human medicine in a manner that includes student opinions and2. whether being required to take an elective on the topic led to changes in student environmental knowledge and awareness.

Methodology: Personal individual interviews were conducted with all n=11 students after the course in a pilot that was carried out in the 2020/21 winter semester to determine course feasibility and student acceptance. The students were also able to evaluate the course using an evaluation form and were asked to complete a questionnaire on their environmental knowledge and awareness before and after the course. The course was revised on the basis of the results and offered again in the 2021 summer semester with an intervention group (n=16, participation in the mandatory elective) and a comparison group (n=25, no participation in the mandatory elective). The intervention group was asked to evaluate the course on the evaluation form. Both groups completed the environmental questionnaire at the same time.

Results: The positive feedback from students for both semesters indicates a good feasibility and acceptance of the course. Student environmental knowledge was increased in both semesters. However, there were only few observable changes in student environmental awareness.

Conclusion: This paper illustrates how the topic of climate change and health can be embedded into medical studies. The students considered climate change an important topic and drew added value from the course for their future work in healthcare. The study shows that knowledge transfer at the university level is an effective way to educate the young generation on climate change and its impacts.