Knowledge and Reported Practices of Nursing Students Regarding Health Effects of Climate Change in Sohag City

Abstract

Background: Climate change is considered one of the biggest global health threats in the 21st century. Nurses can affect change through health education. They should educate the public about this phenomenon, and guide the people to adopt healthy, environmentally friendly practices to reduce its impact. Aim: To assess knowledge and reported practices of nursing students regarding health effects of climate change in Sohag City. Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at the faculty of nursing, technical health & technical nursing institutes in Sohag City. Sampling: A systematic random sample consists of 286 nursing students. Tools: Tool I included two parts; part one included demographic characteristics and part two included a questionnaire to assess the nursing students' knowledge regarding the health effects of climate change. Tool II assesses the nursing students' reported practices regarding climate change. Results: 82.5% of nursing students had poor knowledge, and 67.1% of them had unsatisfactory practices regarding climate change. Conclusion: Nursing students had poor knowledge and unsatisfactory practices regarding climate change. Recommendations: An in-service training (change to health education) program is needed to raise nursing students' awareness about climate change.