Date of Award
Spring 2025
Project Type
Clinical Doctorate
College or School
CHHS
Department
NURSING
Program or Major
DNP
Degree Name
Other
First Advisor
Cathleen Colleran
Second Advisor
Claire Richards
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Most healthcare professionals (HCPs) know that climate change poses a serious threat to human health, but few physicians and nurses actually discuss climate-related impacts on health with their patients. This knowledge-practice gap poses a risk to patient safety.
PROBLEM: Patients who are unaware of environmental threats to health may develop new illnesses, experience unnecessary exacerbations of underlying health problems and may die.
METHODS: A quality improvement intervention that addressed the educational needs of HCPs as described in the literature was developed and hosted on an online survey platform.
INTERVENTION: Preintervention survey questions captured baseline attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge. The intervention was comprised of two videos and a toolkit with facts/ resources. Brief education was provided on climate change (in general). Content emphasized environmental impacts of climate change to Washington state and health impacts on Washingtonians. Postintervention survey questions evaluated educational outcomes and other potential changes.
RESULTS: Statistically significant increases in knowledge were noted for identifying people at risk of developing heat illnesses/death, and for use of the CDC’s HeatRisk Tool. All HCPs reported feeling “more prepared” for providing climate-sensitive health counseling to patients as a result of the intervention and found the information personally relevant. The intervention had a low participation rate; thus, results cannot be assumed to represent a true cross-section of nurses in Washington state nor are they generalizable.
CONCLUSIONS: HCPs want to learn more about health impacts of climate change. Online education is an effective tool to address knowledge deficits of HCPs. With modifications, this method could be a valuable QI technique within healthcare facilities and organizations.
Recommended Citation
Pinson, Margaret "Maggie", "Development of An Educational Toolkit for Washington State Nursing Professionals Regarding Climate-related Impacts on Health" (2025). DNP Scholarly Projects. 126.
https://scholars.unh.edu/scholarly_projects/126