Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10953/3130
Title: Sustainability education in nursing degree for climate-smart healthcare: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Álvarez-Nieto, Carmen
Parra-Anguita, Laura
Álvarez-García, Cristina
Montoro-Ramírez, Eva María
López-Franco, María Dolores
Sanz-Martos, Sebastián
López-Medina, Isabel María
Abstract: Purpose– In light of the world’s accelerating march towards a sustainable future, the education for sustainable healthcare must be sufficiently acknowledged in health professions curricula. Early integration of these competences into nursing degree programme emphasizes its importance and applicability. This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of an educational sustainability intervention in higher education to change nursing students’ attitudes towards sustainability and climate change, and environmentalawareness. Design/methodology/approach– A quasi-experimental study was performed with repeated measures between September 2019 and May 2023. Undergraduate students were introduced to sustainability and climate change in the context of healthcare using scenario-based learning and augmented reality over the courses in nursing degree. Participants’ attitudes and awareness were collected by online questionnaires. Findings– The educational intervention showed effectiveness in significantly improving attitudes towards climate change and sustainability, and the environmental awareness for changing their clinical practice (p < 0.01). However, students struggled to apply sustainability and address unsustainable practices in healthcare settings. Originality/value– This study shows an effective model of curricular sustainability that can be implemented in other universities and health disciplines. The findings highlighting the importance of sustainability education in nursing and its potential to drive positive change in healthcare practice and society at large. Embedding key topics aligned with sustainable development goals in the curriculum prepares nursing or health workforce to address planetary health and implement sustainable practices that provide climate-smart care.
Keywords: Sustainability education
Nursing degree
Attitudes
Awareness
Issue Date: 26-Jul-2024
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
Citation: Álvarez-Nieto, C., Parra-Anguita, L., Álvarez-García, C., Montoro Ramirez, E.M., López-Franco, M.D., Sanz-Martos, S. and López Medina, I.M. (2024), "Sustainability education in nursing degree for climate-smart healthcare: a quasi-experimental study", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 25 No. 9, pp. 278-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2024-0061
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