An Interactive Mapping and Case Discussion Seminar Introducing Medical Students to Climate Change, Environmental...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Medical Education
• Climate Change Impacts

Background:

• Integrating climate change and health into medical curricula is essential for preparing physicians to manage climate-driven health crises.
• Existing curricula often lack comprehensive coverage of the links between climate change, environmental justice, and health disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a medical school seminar on climate change and health.
• To evaluate improvements in medical students' knowledge and attitudes regarding climate change's impact on health and environmental justice.

Main Methods:

• A 2.5-hour seminar was delivered to second-year medical students over two academic years (AY22, AY23).
• The curriculum included didactic teaching, interactive mapping, and case scenarios.
• Learner knowledge and attitudes were measured using pre- and post-seminar surveys and quizzes, with qualitative analysis of feedback.

Main Results:

• Self-assessed ability in climate change and health increased significantly for all educational objectives.
• Student attitudes towards the importance of climate change knowledge for patient health improved significantly (p < .01).
• Interactive small-group sessions were identified as a key strength by participants.

Conclusions:

• The climate change and health seminar successfully enhanced medical students' self-assessed abilities and positive attitudes.
• The session effectively highlighted the connections between environmental policy, climate change, and local health vulnerabilities.
• Interactive learning methods are crucial for effective climate change and health education in medical schools.