Environmental responsibility in hospital care: Findings from a qualitative study

Kallio, Hanna; Pietilä, Anna‐Maija; Johnson, Martin; Kangasniemi, Mari

doi:10.5430/jha.v7n5p56

Cited by 14 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…This education should be paired with the implementation of institutional systems that encourage and incentivize resource conservation by staff. Clearly defined policies, procedures, purchasing practices and a motivational culture within hospitals comprise examples of organizational support for resource conservation and pollution prevention efforts [32,33]. Changing institutional practices to develop systems and places that promote healthful decisions for people and the environment as the default option is one of the most effective ways to motivate behavior change [34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical, nursing, and physician assistant student knowledge and attitudes toward climate change, pollution, and resource conservation in health care

Ryan¹,

Dubrow²,

Sherman

2020

BMC Med Educ

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Background: Climate change and pollution generated by the health care sector impose significant public health burdens. This study aimed to assess medical, nursing and physician assistant student knowledge and attitudes regarding climate change, pollution from the health care sector, and responsibility for resource conservation within professional practice. Methods: In February-March, 2018, medical, nursing, and physician assistant students at Yale University (1011 potential respondents) were sent a 17-question online Qualtrics survey. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, as well as Fisher's exact test and logistic regression to assess associations between variables of interest and the personal characteristics of gender, age, geographic place of origin, school, and year in school (among medical students). Results: The response rate was 28% (280 respondents). 90% felt that physicians, nurses, and physician assistants have a responsibility to conserve resources and prevent pollution within their professional practice. 63% agreed or strongly agreed that the relationship between pollution, climate change, and health should be covered in the classroom and should be reinforced in the clinical setting. 57% preferred or strongly preferred reusable devices. 91% felt lack of time and production pressure, and 85% believed that lack of education on disease burden stemming from health care pollution, were barriers to taking responsibility for resource conservation and pollution prevention. Women and physician assistant students exhibited a greater commitment than men and medical students, respectively, to address pollution, climate change, and resource conservation in patient care and professional practice. Conclusion: We found that health professional students are engaged with the concept of environmental stewardship in clinical practice and would like to see pollution, climate change, and health covered in their curriculum. In order for this education to be most impactful, more research and industry transparency regarding the environmental footprint of health care materials and specific clinician resource consumption patterns will be required.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical, nursing, and physician assistant student knowledge and attitudes toward climate change, pollution, and resource conservation in health care

Ryan¹,

Dubrow²,

Sherman

2020

BMC Med Educ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Environmental responsibility in nursing aims to provide good care with minimum environmental harm (Kallio, Pietilä, Johnson, & Kangasniemi, 2018; Kangasniemi, Kallio, & Pietilä, 2014). It prevents pollution and advocates clean and productive ecosystems and promotes the sustainable use of natural resources (Association of Perioperative Nurses [AORN], 2020; Topf, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Environmental responsibility is value‐based and linked to nurses' professional ethics (AORN, 2020; Harris, Pisa, Talioaga, & Vezeau, 2009; Kangasniemi et al, 2014) and their social responsibility to protect the environment (ICN, 2018; Peres et al., 2014) that humankind is dependent on (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2019). In nurses' clinical practice, environmental responsibility focuses on optimal, effective material and energy use processes (Kallio et al., 2018; Kangasniemi et al., 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, nurses' awareness of environmental responsibility in nursing and health care has been reported to be relatively low (Álvarez‐Nieto et al., 2018; Richardson, Grose, Doman, & Kelsey, 2014). Studies have also reported that nurses have used materials and energy without considering the environment (Kallio et al., 2018; Moreschi et al., 2014; Richardson et al., 2014) and they have not been aware of, or followed, waste sorting instructions (Vogt & Nunes, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have highlighted that environmental responsibility in clinical nursing practice requires multiprofessional collaboration at all levels in a hospital (Kallio et al., 2018; Lipkin, 2012; Ryan‐Fogarty, O'Regan, & Moles, 2016). Success in environmental responsibility has been found to require strategic development and follow‐up (Kallio et al., 2018; Kangasniemi et al., 2014), but nurses also need opportunities to contribute to environmental improvements in hospitals. For example, it has been recognised that nominated environmental support contacts have been beneficial with regard to developing arrangements and peer support in their units (Kallio et al., 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental responsibility in nursing in hospitals: A modified Delphi study of nurses' views

Kallio

Pietilä

Kangasniemi

2020

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Objectives: To identify nurses' views on environmentally responsible clinical practices, and to examine their consensus regarding the stakeholders and their roles and tools needed to promote, and enable, environmental responsibility in clinical practice. Background: Using materials and energy in hospitals has a negative impact on the environment and people's environmental health. Research on decreasing this burden in clinical practice is sparse. Design: A modified Delphi method with two rounds. Methods: Data were collected from 35 nursing staff in five Finnish university hospitals in 2019. The first-round data were collected with semi-structured interviews in small groups and subjected to content analysis. The second-round data were collected with an Internet-based questionnaire from 27 of those participants and statistically analysed. The CREDES checklist was used. Results: According to nurses, environmentally responsible clinical practices focus on effective material and energy use. Material use focused on sustainable and cooperative purchasing, considerate use of products and minimising waste and idle electricity and reducing water and transport use. The tools needed to promote, and enable, environmental responsibility in clinical practice were staff inducements and training and certain resources and guidance. All the hospital health and support service staff needed to commit to collaboration. Conclusions: It is important to address stakeholders' roles in environmental responsibility in hospitals. Environmental aims should be firm and visible, and nurses should have the relevant competencies. They also need sufficient time to develop environmental initiatives and proper facilities to carry out their work with a minimal environmental burden. Providing staff feedback and rewards for their environmental efforts is beneficial for engagement. Relevance to clinical practice: This study will help nurses to identify their needs and opportunities to realise and develop environmental responsibility in their practice. It can also inform hospital leaders to develop corporate environmental responsibility, including in-service training.

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Reducing the carbon footprint of a German university hospital: Perspectives from hospital stakeholders

Quitmann

Sauerborn

Herrmann

2023

The Journal of Climate Change and Health

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Environmental responsibility in hospital care: Findings from a qualitative study

Abstract: Objective: To identify the key elements of environmental responsibility in hospital care and the stakeholders involved.

Cited by 14 publications

References 42 publications

Medical, nursing, and physician assistant student knowledge and attitudes toward climate change, pollution, and resource conservation in health care

Medical, nursing, and physician assistant student knowledge and attitudes toward climate change, pollution, and resource conservation in health care

Environmental responsibility in nursing in hospitals: A modified Delphi study of nurses' views

Reducing the carbon footprint of a German university hospital: Perspectives from hospital stakeholders

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