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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0The Journal of Climate Change and Health

Framework-informed analysis of practice: A qualitative study on climate resilience in primary care in Austria

  • Johanna Schauer-Berg
  • Andrea Stitzel1
  • Willi Haas2
  • Maria Flamm3
  • Katharina Brugger4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Institute of General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Austria; Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Work, Austria
  2. 2University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of Social Ecology, Austria
  3. 3Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Institute of General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Austria; Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Center for Public Health and Healthcare Research, Austria
  4. 4Austrian National Public Health Institute, Department for Climate Resilience and One Health, Austria
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Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2023 Operational framework for building climate resilient and low carbon health systems supports health systems in climate-sensitive capacity building but offers limited guidance for primary care (PC). This qualitative study uses WHO’s framework as conceptual scaffold to map measures, needs and gaps in Austrian PC through a multiprofessional perspective, thereby enriching the research scope by local-level climate resilience strategies. Methods: Online focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 21 Austrian primary care professionals (PCPs). Qualitative content analysis was guided by the structure of components grouped into building blocks as defined in WHO's framework. Results: Participants focused primarily on the WHO building blocks “Health workforce” and “Essential medical products and technology”. They demonstrated awareness of climate-related health impacts, especially heat, and addressed needs for profession-specific training as well as barriers to implementing climate-sensitive health counseling. Infrastructural adaptations were limited by structural constraints, yet air conditioning was deemed indispensable in practice settings, despite being maladaptive. The need for process adjustments, especially in mobile work settings, became apparent. Climate-related emergency preparedness seems underdeveloped. Severe gaps were identified especially concerning building blocks “Health information systems”, “Service delivery”, and “Financing”. Conclusions: PCPs play a vital role in local climate resilience but require tailored, context-specific guidance aligned with PC’s integrated, small-scale, multiprofessional nature. Strategic macro-level objectives are required to support low-barrier implementation of resilience measures. Prioritizing emergency preparedness and addressing structural limitations in PC is essential to ensure the transition to a climate resilient, low-carbon health system, fulfilling WHO’s vision.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{schauerberg2026frameworkinformed,
  title = {{Framework-informed analysis of practice: A qualitative study on climate resilience in primary care in Austria}},
  author = {Johanna Schauer-Berg and Andrea Stitzel and Willi Haas and Maria Flamm and Katharina Brugger},
  journal = {The Journal of Climate Change and Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.joclim.2026.100763},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2026.100763},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Framework-informed analysis of practice: A qualitative study on climate resilience in primary care in Austria
AU  - Johanna Schauer-Berg
AU  - Andrea Stitzel
AU  - Willi Haas
AU  - Maria Flamm
AU  - Katharina Brugger
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/24
JO  - The Journal of Climate Change and Health
DO  - 10.1016/j.joclim.2026.100763
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2026.100763
AB  - Introduction: The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2023 Operational framework for building climate resilient and low carbon health systems supports health systems in climate-sensitive capacity building but offers limited guidance for primary care (PC). This qualitative study uses WHO’s framework as conceptual scaffold to map measures, needs and gaps in Austrian PC through a multiprofessional perspective, thereby enriching the research scope by local-level climate resilience strategies. Methods: Online focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 21 Austrian primary care professionals (PCPs). Qualitative content analysis was guided by the structure of components grouped into building blocks as defined in WHO's framework. Results: Participants focused primarily on the WHO building blocks “Health workforce” and “Essential medical products and technology”. They demonstrated awareness of climate-related health impacts, especially heat, and addressed needs for profession-specific training as well as barriers to implementing climate-sensitive health counseling. Infrastructural adaptations were limited by structural constraints, yet air conditioning was deemed indispensable in practice settings, despite being maladaptive. The need for process adjustments, especially in mobile work settings, became apparent. Climate-related emergency preparedness seems underdeveloped. Severe gaps were identified especially concerning building blocks “Health information systems”, “Service delivery”, and “Financing”. Conclusions: PCPs play a vital role in local climate resilience but require tailored, context-specific guidance aligned with PC’s integrated, small-scale, multiprofessional nature. Strategic macro-level objectives are required to support low-barrier implementation of resilience measures. Prioritizing emergency preparedness and addressing structural limitations in PC is essential to ensure the transition to a climate resilient, low-carbon health system, fulfilling WHO’s vision.
SN  - 2667-2782
ER  -