Nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding potential impacts of climate change on public health in central of China

Abstract

This study aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses concerning climate change and their role in addressing health-related impacts of climate change in Central China. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. The study randomly selected nurses from hospitals in Central of China and they were asked to complete a questionnaire about climate change Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data. Majority of nurses (76%) knew about the climate change would affect public health. But more than half of the nurses did not know their work could also affect the development of climate change; 83–96% of the nurses thought it were necessary and would like to learn the knowledge about climate change. The education program about this issue in Chinese colleges or universities is still very weak nursing courses and needs to be emphasized in the future.