Date of Award

10-13-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MSc in Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Salma Rattani

Second Advisor

Ms. Shamsa Samani

Third Advisor

Ms Shumaila Batool

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Climate change is identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the biggest threat to human health. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to its impacts, particularly in megacities like Karachi, which face intense heatwaves and urban floods. Since nurses form the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, they are crucial in addressing climate-related health risks through patient care and advocacy. However, localized, comparative data quantifying nurses’ readiness specifically between public and private hospital settings, is lacking in this highly vulnerable region.
Purpose: This exploratory descriptive study aimed to quantitatively assess and compare the climate change awareness, motivation, and concerns among registered nurses in selected public and private hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Additionally, the study sought to explore the influence of demographic variables on these constructs. The research was guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM).
Method: An analytical cross-sectional design was utilized. The study recruited a target sample of 340 registered nurses from a major private hospital (Aga Khan University Hospital) and a major public hospital (National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases) in Karachi. Data were collected between June and September 2025 using the validated Climate, Health, and Nursing Tool (CHANT). Due to non-normal distribution, non-parametric tests, including the Mann-Whitney U test, were used for inferential analysis.
Finding(s): Nurses demonstrated the highest overall mean score for Motivation (M = 2.93), followed by Concern (M = 2.66) and Awareness (M = 2.55). A significant difference was found in the level of Awareness (p < .001) and Experience (p = .010), with private hospital nurses reporting significantly higher scores in both areas compared to public hospital nurses. Female nurses reported significantly higher Awareness (p = .031) and Concern (p = .021), while male nurses reported significantly higher climate-friendly Behaviors (p = .003).
Conclusion: The results indicate a "motivation-knowledge gap," where nurses are highly motivated by professional duty but possess moderate awareness. The institutional environment is a strong factor shaping awareness, suggesting that resource availability and Cues to Action (HBM) differ significantly between the private and public sectors. Targeted educational and policy strategies are required to bolster foundational knowledge, channeling the nurses' existing professional motivation into effective, context-specific sustainable health practices in Karachi.

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Last Page

136

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