Environmental health literacy levels of nursing students

In the contemporary era, the role of nurses in safeguarding and advancing environmental and human health has assumed heightened significance, particularly in light of the deteriorating environmental conditions. The objective of this descriptive study was to ascertain the extent of environmental health literacy among student nurses.

The study was conducted with 299 undergraduate nursing students from a foundation university in Northern Cyprus during the spring semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. The data collection instrument included the Descriptive Information Form and the Environmental Health Literacy Scale (EHLS).

The mean EHLS score for the nursing students was found to be 80.47 ± 22.96. The mean scores obtained from the knowledge, awareness of health effects, perception of environmental exposure, and behavior dimensions of the EHLS were 23.87 ± 7.49, 19.83 ± 6.27, 9.27 ± 4.83, and 27.50 ± 8.95, respectively. A positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between the scores obtained from the EHLS and its dimensions of knowledge, awareness of health effects, perception of environmental exposure and behavior. The independent variables that significantly contributed to an increase in the EHLS scores were residing with friends, always or sometimes warning people who pollute environment, holding the belief that nurses should be sensitive to the environmental issues and being a third-year nursing student.

The study revealed that the environmental health literacy levels of the participants were above the moderate level. Based on these findings, it can be proposed that compulsory environment-related courses be incorporated into the nursing curriculum. Furthermore, active learning methodologies should be employed, and existing environment-related courses should be revised to encompass national and global environmental issues, environmental risks, and their potential consequences. Further studies can be conducted with the aim of enhancing environmental health literacy.