Assessing the role of education level on climate change belief, concern and action: a multinational survey of healthcare professionals in nephrology

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Sandal S.; Onu U.; Fung W.; Pippias M.; Smyth B.; De Chiara L.; Bajpai D.; Bilchut W.H.; Hafiz E.; Kelly D.M.; Bagasha P.; Jha V.; Ethier I.

Journal: Journal of Nephrology

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Publication Date: 29 January 2025

Volume / Issue: Volume 38 / Issue 3

Pages: 925–934

ISSN: 11218428

DOI: 10.1007/s40620-024-02195-0

Scopus: View on Scopus

PubMed: 39878913

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Green Open Access

Authors and Affiliations

Sandal S., Divisions of Nephrology and Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada, MEDIC, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada; Onu U., Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Enugu, Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria; Fung W., Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Pippias M., Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom, North Bristol NHS Trust, Renal Unit, Bristol, United Kingdom; Smyth B., NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, Department of Renal Medicine, St George Hospital, Kogarah, Australia; De Chiara L., Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Bajpai D., Department of Nephrology, Seth G.S.M.C. and K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, India; Bilchut W.H., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Hafiz E., Clinical Laboratory Division, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Kelly D.M., Oxford Critical Care, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; Bagasha P., Internal Medicine, Mulago National Referral Hospital and College of Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Jha V., The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, New Delhi, India, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Ethier I., Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada, Health Innovation and Evaluation Hub, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de L’Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

Abstract

Background: Climate change poses a significant risk to kidney health, and countries with lower national wealth are more vulnerable. Yet, citizens from lower-income countries demonstrate less concern for climate change than those from higher-income countries. Education is a key covariate. To examine its role in explaining this perception gap, we obtained the perspectives of a highly educated cohort of healthcare professionals. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals involved in kidney care. Responses were compared by the income level of the participant’s country (per World Bank). Results: Of the 849 healthcare professionals from 107 countries (63.4% from lower and middle-income countries) that participated, most believed climate change was happening (97.9%), displayed a high level of concern (73.3%), and took personal action to combat climate change (62.0%). While the proportion who believed in climate change did not vary by income level (high:98.1%, upper-middle:97.2%, lower-middle:97.8%, low:100%, p = 0.73), the proportion with a higher level of concern (high:80.7%, upper-middle:74.9%, lower-middle:67.5%, low:53.8%, p < 0.001), and who took climate action (high:76.2%, upper-middle:63.1%, lower-middle:51.2%, low:30.8%, p < 0.001) decreased by national wealth. Barriers to involvement in sustainable kidney care were lack of time (54.4%), knowledge (39.7%), and peer support (30.3%). Only 34.0% were aware of national mitigation plans and barriers related to finances, technologies, tools, methods, research, and evidence were perceived as greater obstacles in lower-income countries. Conclusions: Our results highlight that predictors and correlates of climate change risk perception vary across countries. Education alone is unlikely to increase individual and group engagement in climate change. A better understanding of these factors can inform strategies towards climate action in different settings. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Italian Society of Nephrology 2025.

Keywords

Climate change; Comparative analysis; Environmentally sustainable nephrology; Healthcare professionals; Income level; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged; Nephrology; Surveys and Questionnaires; article; cross-sectional study; education; health care personnel; human; Italian (citizen); low income country; major clinical study; middle income country; peer group; risk perception; World Bank; attitude to health; developing country; health personnel attitude; psychology; questionnaire

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 8

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