An e-Learning Course to Train General Practitioners in Planetary Health: Pilot Intervention Study.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Climate change and ecological crises pose significant threats to global human health.
• Healthcare systems contribute substantially to environmental emissions, necessitating sustainable practices.
• Primary care, particularly general practitioners (GPs), plays a vital role in planetary health (PH).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a blended-learning e-learning module on planetary health (PH) for GP residents.
• To assess the module's impact on participants' knowledge and self-reported behavior changes regarding environmental health.
• To integrate PH principles into the training of future primary care physicians.

Main Methods:

• A before-and-after study design was employed.
• The e-learning module covered ecosystem degradation, health impacts, and healthcare's environmental footprint.
• Knowledge and PH-related behaviors were self-assessed using Likert scales via pre- and post-tests.

Main Results:

• Ninety-five GP residents completed the study, with a 55% response rate.
• Significant improvements were observed in self-assessed knowledge and PH-related behaviors post-module.
• Prior PH training positively correlated with higher baseline knowledge scores.

Conclusions:

• The PH e-learning module effectively enhanced knowledge and positively influenced behaviors among GP residents.
• The findings support the integration of PH education into medical curricula.
• Further research is needed to confirm the translation of self-reported behaviors into actual clinical practice.