Healthcare professionals' awareness of climate change and its association with eco-anxiety and environmental sensitivity: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare professionals play an essential role in addressing the health impacts of climate change. Understanding how their awareness of climate issues and eco-anxiety relate to environmental sensitivity is critical for strengthening their capacity to respond to climate-related risks. This study aimed to examine the relationship between healthcare workers' climate change awareness, levels of eco-anxiety, and their environmental sensitivity.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, correlational design was employed. The study included 460 healthcare professionals aged 18 years or older working in clinical settings. Data were gathered using a socio-demographic form, the Environmental Sensitivity Scale, the Global Climate Change Awareness Scale, and the Eco-Anxiety Scale. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 24.0, including descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Healthcare professionals demonstrated moderate levels of climate change awareness and environmental sensitivity, while eco-anxiety levels were moderate. Regression analysis showed that awareness of global climate change, being a nurse, being aged 45 years or older, and membership in an environmental organization were significant predictors of environmental sensitivity, whereas the rumination sub-dimension of eco-anxiety showed only a marginal, non-significant association (p=0.064).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that cognitive engagement with climate-related concerns, climate awareness, and certain demographic characteristics are associated with environmental sensitivity among healthcare professionals. Enhancing educational efforts, institutional support, and environmental policies may strengthen their capacity to address climate-related health risks and promote environmentally responsible practices in healthcare settings.