Assessing the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Medical Students Towards Climate Change and Global Warming in Private Universities of Jalalabad, Afghanistan

Abstract

This study was conducted in Spinhgar, Rokhan, and Aryana Private Institutes of Higher Education in Jalalabad City, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. It aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding climate change and global warming. The research spanned from September to December 2023 and involved faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Medical Laboratory Technology. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to assess the understanding, behavior, and practices of the students regarding climate issues. The questionnaire was administered to the participants to gather data on their knowledge levels and attitudes towards climate change. The study sample included medical students from the aforementioned institutes. The results of the study revealed a moderate knowledge level among the participants, with 55% of students demonstrating awareness of climate change while 45% lacked familiarity with the subject. In terms of attitudes, the majority of students (69%) agreed with climate change concerns, while 31% held less favorable views. Encouragingly, 80% of students reported active engagement in activities aimed at preventing climate change. The findings of this study highlight the importance of targeted educational interventions to address knowledge gaps and promote universally positive attitudes among medical students regarding climate change. The results also emphasize the need to encourage broader adoption of sustainable practices among future healthcare professionals. The research provides valuable insights for developing effective strategies to equip medical students to actively address the global challenge of climate change.