Climate Change ECHO: Telementoring to Improve Climate Literacy for Health Professionals

Joanna G. Katzman, MD, MSPH; David Herring, MS; Stefan Wheat, MD; Ralph J. Groves, MD; Briana Kazhe-Dominguez, BS; Chamron Martin; Kent Norsworthy, MA; Jinyang Liu, MA; Sabrina Lord, MHA; Laura E. Tomedi, PhD, MPH

AJPM Focus (Mar 2023)

Climate Change ECHO: Telementoring to Improve Climate Literacy for Health Professionals

Joanna G. Katzman, MD, MSPH,
David Herring, MS,
Stefan Wheat, MD,
Ralph J. Groves, MD,
Briana Kazhe-Dominguez, BS,
Chamron Martin,
Kent Norsworthy, MA,
Jinyang Liu, MA,
Sabrina Lord, MHA,
Laura E. Tomedi, PhD, MPH

Affiliations

Joanna G. Katzman, MD, MSPH: Department of Neurosurgery, The University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Project ECHO, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Address correspondence to: Joanna G. Katzman, MD, MSPH, Department of Neurosurgery, 1 Univeristy of New Mexico, MSC 08-4720, Albuquerque NM 87131.
David Herring, MS: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
Stefan Wheat, MD: Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
Ralph J. Groves, MD: Office of Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Public Health Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Briana Kazhe-Dominguez, BS: Project ECHO, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Chamron Martin: Project ECHO, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kent Norsworthy, MA: Project ECHO, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jinyang Liu, MA: Project ECHO, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sabrina Lord, MHA: Presbyterian Health System, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Laura E. Tomedi, PhD, MPH: Project ECHO, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; College of Population Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 1
p. 100051

Abstract

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Introduction: Climate change is a global public health crisis. Most clinicians and public health professionals do not receive adequate education to manage and communicate climate-related health impacts to their patients. Methods: From July 2021 to February 2022, the Project ECHO Climate Change and Human Health program completed 22 weekly trainings for health professionals. These virtual telementoring sessions were designed to improve both knowledge and self-efficacy about climate-related health impacts and climate change‒related communication skills. Results: Between July 2021 and February 2022, a total of 804 unique participants (from 44 states and 25 countries) attended the sessions. Participants were nurses (24.7%), physicians (16.8%), and public health professionals (8.5%). They completed weekly Zoom polls measuring their knowledge and self-efficacy. On average, participants strongly agreed or agreed that they had learned skills taught in each session (average percentage of those who strongly agreed or agreed=94.6%, range=66.7%–100.0%). Participants (31%) also completed a weekly postsession survey. A total of 91% rated the sessions as excellent or very good regarding evidenced-basis, and 89% rated sessions as excellent or very good regarding improved communication skills with patients and colleagues. Conclusions: Given the global climate crisis, the Climate Change and Human Health ECHO is successfully building resources and capacity for clinicians and public health professionals.

Published in AJPM Focus

ISSN: 2773-0654 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ajpm-focus

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