South African Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare: A Mixed-Methods Study

Helga E. Lister, Karien Mostert, Tanita Botha, Simoné van der Linde, Elaine van Wyk, Su-Ané Rocher, Richelle Laing, Lucy Wu, Selma Müller, Alexander des Tombe, Tebogo Kganyago, Nonhlanhla Zwane, Boitumelo Mphogo and Filip Maric ()
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Helga E. Lister: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Karien Mostert: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Tanita Botha: Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Simoné van der Linde: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Elaine van Wyk: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Su-Ané Rocher: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Richelle Laing: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Lucy Wu: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Selma Müller: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Alexander des Tombe: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Tebogo Kganyago: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Nonhlanhla Zwane: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Boitumelo Mphogo: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
Filip Maric: Department of Health and Care Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9020 Tromsø, Norway

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Climate change, biodiversity loss and large-scale environmental degradation are widely recognized as the biggest health threats of the 21st century, with the African continent already amongst the most severely affected and vulnerable to their further progression. The healthcare system’s contribution to climate change and environmental degradation requires healthcare professionals to address environmental issues urgently. However, the foundation for context-relevant interventions across research, practice, and education is not readily available. Therefore, we conducted a convergent mixed-methods study to investigate South African healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers to environmental sustainability. Healthcare professionals participated in a cross-sectional questionnaire ( n = 100) and in-depth semi-structured focus group discussions ( n = 18). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, respectively, and integrated to provide holistic findings. Our results confirm overwhelmingly positive attitudes and a high degree of interest in education, implementation, and taking on more corresponding responsibility, but a lack of substantial knowledge of the subject matter, and only tentative implementation of practices. Identified barriers include a lack of knowledge, resources, and policies. Further research, education, and policy development on overcoming these barriers is required. This will facilitate harnessing the extant enthusiasm and advance environmental sustainability in South Africa’s healthcare practice.

Keywords: environmental sustainability; sustainable healthcare; occupational therapy; physiotherapy; planetary health; climate change; healthcare professions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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