Date of Award

11-4-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Laila Ladak

Second Advisor

Dr, Jai K Das

Third Advisor

Dr Adeel Khoja

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Climate change problems make people more aware of their physical and mental health impacts. However, more clinical care and research relating to climate change must be needed. The challenges posed by climate change are as follows: healthcare professionals must assess and be prepared to work in a climate changed environment. Clinicians may be unprepared to recognize and manage mental health challenges resulting from climate change because there is often a lack of extant research. It is essential to comprehend the awareness of healthcare professionals in the primary healthcare system of Pakistan regarding the complex correlation between climate change and the mental health of individuals. Such understanding is essential for policymaking, improving medical curriculum, and patient care.
Purpose: The study's objective is to examine the current state of knowledge among Pakistani primary healthcare professionals concerning the impact of climate change on individual mental health.
Methodology: The study design was a quantitative cross-sectional analytical study, which used structured self-completed questionnaires to evaluate the first-line primary care physicians living in different regions of Pakistan, namely Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Sindh, and Karachi, with regards to their perception of climate change and its impact towards mental health. Demographic variables and extent of exposure to climate change terms, including solastalgia, climate anxiety, v and eco-anxiety, were also compared in the data. In analyzing these relationships, the research used Chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests.

Findings: The study enrolled 263 participants, 82.5% (n=217) were females. The average age of the participants during client participation was 37.06 ± 8.99 years. The study also showed that most participants concur that climate change is an issue that is a cause of concern, as formulated by 261 of the 261 participants (99.2%). When considering the impact of climate change on mental health, 98.1% agree that climate-related factors will affect mental health. Furthermore, A majority (62.7%) expressed a sense of preparedness and confidence in discussing these impacts with clients. However, the same proportion (62.7%) indicated a lack of familiarity with specific tools and resources available for assessment and treatment. Moreover, participants with high familiarity with Solastalgia are more likely to have a good perception of the effect of climate change. Similarly, a significant difference is reported for other terms, including Climate grief (F=6.902, p< 0.01) and Ecogrief (F=8.552, p< 0.01).
Conclusion: The study found significant gap in knowledge and preparedness among primary healthcare professionals in Pakistan regarding the mental health impacts of climate change. While there is broad awareness of the issue, the lack of familiarity with key concepts and the limited availability of resources poses challenges to effective intervention. Most participants expressed a need for additional information on addressing the mental health impacts of climate change, with a preference for continuing education courses and professional conference presentations. The vi results also indicated a significant demand for practical educational opportunities, underscoring the need for comprehensive training and resources in primary healthcare settings.

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