Abstract:

Objective To investigate the awareness and attitudes of nursing professionals in certain regions of China regarding climate change and health. Methods From December 2023 to January 2024，a convenience sample of 643 registered nurses from hospitals in six provinces across China mainland was selected as the participants. The Preparedness of Nurses for Climate Change Questionnaire，developed by the Universitas 21（U21） Health Sciences Nursing and Midwifery Discipline Group was used to conduct the survey. Results A total of 595 valid questionnaires were collected，with a valid response rate of 92.53%. It was found that 54.79%（326/595） of the nursing professionals had never heard of any nursing organizations or initiatives related to climate change. Statistically significant differences（P<0.05） were observed in the awareness levels among nursing professionals with different professional titles，educational backgrounds prior to registration，levels of public health-related training，and varying degrees of confidence in implementing nursing position statements or initiatives related to climate change. The top three vulnerable groups that nursing professionals believed should be prioritized for protection were pregnant women，individuals aged 65 and above，and those aged 18 and below. Important strategies for protecting vulnerable populations from the hazards of climate change were identified including enhancing public awareness of climate change and health，conducting health education for climate-vulnerable groups，and providing direct care to these groups. About 61.18%（364/595） of nursing professionals believed that climate change had a more-than-moderate impact on the nursing community. In terms of perceptions of responsibility for climate change response，only 45.88%（273/595） of nursing professionals believed that the nursing community should also assume a more-than-moderate level of responsibility. Conclusion Nursing professionals’ awareness of climate change and its health impacts is relatively weak，and their understanding of the professional responsibilities in addressing climate change is insufficient. It is recommended to strengthen training related to climate change and its health impacts，clarify the roles and responsibilities of nursing professionals in addressing climate change，enhance their awareness and capabilities in responding to climate change，thereby promoting the establishment of a sustainable healthcare system.

Key words: Climate change, Health impacts, Nurses, Awareness, Attitude, Questionnaires