Nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding potential impacts of climate change on public health in central of China

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses concerning climate change and their role in addressing health-related impacts of climate change in Central China. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. The study randomly selected nurses from hospitals in Central of China and they were asked to complete a questionnaire about climate change Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Majority of nurses (76%) knew about the climate change would affect public health. But more than half of the nurses did not know their work could also affect the development of climate change; 83–96% of the nurses thought it were necessary and would like to learn the knowledge about climate change. Conclusion: The education program about this issue in Chinese colleges or universities is still very weak nursing courses and needs to be emphasized in the future.

Keywords

• Climate change
• Public health
• Nurse
• China