A Digital Nursing Support Program to Enhance Climate Change Resilience and Reduce Eco-Anxiety among Parents of Children with Respiratory Allergies

Abstract

Background: Climate change significantly exacerbates respiratory allergies in children due to prolonged pollen seasons and increased air pollution. These environmental shifts not only threaten children’s physical health but also trigger "eco-anxiety" among parents, who feel overwhelmed by the uncontrollable nature of environmental hazards. Nurses, as frontline educators, play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between climate awareness and health management. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital nursing support program to enhance climate change resilience and reduce eco-anxiety among parents of children with respiratory allergies.Methods: A quasiexperimental design (pre-test/post-test) was conducted involving a convenient sample of all 300 parents with six months from the Pediatric Outpatient Clinics at Sohag University Hospitals. The digital program was delivered via a mobile-based platform. Data were collected using the Parents’ demographic data, Eco-Anxiety Scale and a Climate Resilience Competency Questionnaire. Results: Post-intervention findings revealed a statistically significant increase in parents’ climate resilience scores (p < 0.001). There was a notable improvement in their ability to implement proactive health measures during extreme weather events. Concurrently, levels of eco-anxiety significantly decreased, as parents reported feeling more empowered and less paralyzed by environmental concerns. A strong correlation was found between high resilience levels and improved management of their children’s allergy symptoms. Conclusion: The digital nursing support program proved to be an effective tool for equipping parents with the necessary skills to navigate climate-related health challenges. By integrating mental health support with environmental health education, telenursing can foster family resilience in an era of rapid climate change. Recommendations: It is recommended to integrate climate-health counseling into routine pediatric nursing care and to expand digital support platforms to reach vulnerable populations at risk of environmental health disparities.