Pediatric Resident and Program Director Views on Climate Change and Health Curricula: A Multi-Institution Study

Jonathan D Cogen; Alexandra Perkins; Blair Mockler; Krysta S Barton; Alan Schwartz; Markus Boos; Anjana Radhakrishnan; Pragya Rai; Pooja Tandon; Rebecca Philipsborn; H Mollie Grow; APPD LEARN Climate Change Study Group

doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000005633

Pediatric Resident and Program Director Views on Climate Change and Health Curricula: A Multi-Institution Study

Acad Med. 2024 Jan 12. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005633. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ J.D. Cogen is associate professor, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
² A. Perkins is pediatric hospitalist and former pediatric resident, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington.
³ B. Mockler is pediatric pulmonary fellow, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington.
⁴ K.S. Barton is biostatistician, Core for Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Analytics for Research (BEAR) Core, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
⁵ A. Schwartz is professor, Departments of Medical Education and Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Association of Pediatric Program Directors.
⁶ M. Boos is associate professor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
⁷ A. Radhakrishnan is program manager, Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network, Association of Pediatric Program Directors.
⁸ P. Rai is pediatric pulmonologist, Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, Spokane, Washington.
⁹ P. Tandon is associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
¹⁰ R. Philipsborn is assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia.
¹¹ H.M. Grow is professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

PMID: 38232072
DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005633

Abstract

Purpose: The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized in a 2007 policy statement the importance of educating trainees on the impacts of climate change on children's health, yet few studies have evaluated trainee knowledge and attitudes about climate change-related health effects in children. This multi-institution study assessed pediatric resident and program director 1) knowledge/attitudes on climate change and health, 2) perspectives on the importance of incorporating climate and health content into pediatric graduate medical education, and 3) preferred topics/activities to include in climate and health curricula.

Method: This mixed-methods study employed an anonymous cross-sectional survey of pediatric residents and residency program directors from Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network (LEARN)-affiliated programs. Multivariable regression models and factor analyses were used to examine associations among resident demographics and resident knowledge, attitudes, and interest in a climate change curriculum. A conventional content analysis was conducted for the open-ended responses.

Results: Eighteen programs participated in the study with all program directors (100% response rate) and 663 residents (average response rate per program 53%, overall response rate 42%) completing respective surveys. Of program directors, only 3 (17%) felt very or moderately knowledgeable about the association between climate change and health impacts. The majority of residents (n = 423, 64%) agreed/strongly agreed that physicians should discuss global warming/climate change and its health effects with patients/families, while only 138 residents (21%) agreed/strongly agreed that they were comfortable talking with patients and families about these issues. Most residents (n = 498, 76%) and program directors (n = 15, 83%) agreed/strongly agreed that a climate change curriculum should be incorporated into their pediatrics training program.

Conclusions: Pediatric residents and program directors support curricula that prepares future pediatricians to address the impact of climate change on children's health; however, few programs currently offer specific training, despite identified needs.