Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-25-2025
Abstract
Objectives: To address the growing hazards to human health caused by the anthropogenic environmental catastrophe, academic curricula at all levels and disciplines, particularly medical education, should incorporate Planetary Health Education. This study aims to examine medical students' expectations and feedback on a Planetary Health elective in an Italian University.
Study design: Cross-sectional study, employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Methods: Attendees were invited to take part in a mixed-methods written survey, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A statistical and a thematic analysis were conducted to assess responses to questions of a quantitative and qualitative nature, respectively.
Results: Interest in the climate crisis was the main reason for participating in the course (52·7 %), followed by interest in a multidisciplinary approach to health (48·6 %), and the focus on the relationship between human, animal and environmental health (48·6 %). Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: relationship between human health and the environment, international health emergencies, characteristics and role of health systems, broadening of knowledge and views, positive professional impact of the course.
Conclusion: The survey participants showed a deep understanding of the link between environmental conservation and the safeguarding of human health, suggesting that the next generation of medical practitioners could make a significant difference in healthcare and beyond.
Recommended Citation
Nachira, L.; Arcaro, P.; Pattavina, F.; Campo, E.; Castagna, C.; Frasso, R.; Cadeddu, C.; and Bruno, S., "Perceived Relevance of Planetary Health for Medical Students in Italy: Results from a Mixed-Methods Analysis" (2025). College of Population Health Faculty Papers. Paper 212.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/healthpolicyfaculty/212
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Language
English
Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in Public Health in Practice, Volume 9, June 2025, Article number 100607.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100607. Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal Society for Public Health.