Talking about Climate Change and Environmental Degradation with Patients in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Potential Domains of Action and Points of View of General Practitioners

Hélène André, Julia Gonzalez Holguera, Anneliese Depoux, Jérôme Pasquier, Dagmar M. Haller, Pierre-Yves Rodondi, Joëlle Schwarz and Nicolas Senn
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Hélène André: Department of Family Medicine, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Julia Gonzalez Holguera: Competence Center for Sustainability, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Anneliese Depoux: Centre Virchow-Villermé and Centre des Politiques de la Terre, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
Jérôme Pasquier: Sector of Biostatistics, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Dagmar M. Haller: University Institute for Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Pierre-Yves Rodondi: Institute of Family Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
Joëlle Schwarz: Department of Family Medicine, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Nicolas Senn: Department of Family Medicine, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Purpose: General practitioners (GPs) could play a role in mitigating climate change by raising awareness of its impact on human health and implementing changes to improve population health and decreasing environmental footprints. The aim of this study was to assess GPs’ knowledge and perspectives about the health impacts of climate change. Method: A questionnaire was sent to 1972 GPs in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Knowledge of the impact of environmental degradations and climate change on health and willingness to address climate change with patients, to be exemplary and to act as role models were surveyed as well as demographic characteristics of GPs. Results: Respondents (N = 497) expressed a high level of self-reported knowledge regarding climate change, although it was lower for more specific topics, such as planetary health or health–environment co-benefits. Participants mostly agreed that it is necessary to adapt clinical practice to the health impacts of climate change and that they have a role in providing information on climate change and its links to human health. Conclusion: Most of the GPs were concerned about environmental and climate degradation. However, this study revealed a gap between the willingness of GPs to integrate the impact of climate change on health into their clinical activities and their lack of overall knowledge and scientific evidence on effective interventions. A promising way forward may be to develop co-benefit interventions adapted to the clinical setting on diet, active mobility and connecting with nature.

Keywords: co-benefits; planetary health; general practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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