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Peer-reviewedCC BYDiscover Public Health

Climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices among future physicians in Egypt

  • Menna A. Elkholi1
  • Yusof Mohamed Omar2
  • Yahya A. Elghandour2
  • Hagar H. Sallam2
  • Mahmoud Hassanin2
  • Ahmed Yasser Shokry2
  • Aya Sherif2
  • Shimaa M. Gomaa2
  • Dina Gamal Shaheen3
  • Dina N. K. Boulos4
  • IFMSA-Egypt team of collaborators2
4 affiliations
  1. 1Mansoura Manchester Programme for Medical Education, Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura University
  2. 2International Federation of Medical Students Associations-Egypt
  3. 3Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University
  4. 4Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Newgiza University
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Abstract

Background Climate change poses significant threats to public health, necessitating proactive engagement from healthcare professionals. However, there is limited research on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of future physicians in Egypt regarding climate change and health. This study aims to fill this gap and generate insights that can guide institutional reforms and policy development. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and November 2024, involving 797 medical students and interns from 34 Egyptian medical schools. Data were collected using convenience sampling via an online anonymous questionnaire, covering sociodemographics, climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results Most participants (94.3%) were aware of climate change. However, knowledge of indirect health impacts, such as links to social inequality (52.7%) and reproductive health (45%), was limited. The primary sources of climate change information were the internet (87.8%) and social media (86.2%), and 74.5% of participants agreed that climate change should be included in medical curricula. Students exposed to climate change content in their curriculum demonstrated significantly higher personal mitigation and advocacy practices scores compared to their peers (both p < .05). While 69.9% believed physicians should raise awareness, only 30% reported encouraging climate-related local policies. Conclusion Most of the participating medical students were aware of climate change but lacked comprehensive knowledge of its health impacts and advocacy engagement. Integrating climate change into medical curricula may facilitate preparing future climate-oriented healthcare professionals.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{elkholi2026climate,
  title = {{Climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices among future physicians in Egypt}},
  author = {Menna A. Elkholi and Yusof Mohamed Omar and Yahya A. Elghandour and Hagar H. Sallam and Mahmoud Hassanin and Ahmed Yasser Shokry and Aya Sherif and Shimaa M. Gomaa and Dina Gamal Shaheen and Dina N. K. Boulos and IFMSA-Egypt team of collaborators},
  journal = {Discover Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1186/s12982-026-03012-8},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-03012-8},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices among future physicians in Egypt
AU  - Menna A. Elkholi
AU  - Yusof Mohamed Omar
AU  - Yahya A. Elghandour
AU  - Hagar H. Sallam
AU  - Mahmoud Hassanin
AU  - Ahmed Yasser Shokry
AU  - Aya Sherif
AU  - Shimaa M. Gomaa
AU  - Dina Gamal Shaheen
AU  - Dina N. K. Boulos
AU  - IFMSA-Egypt team of collaborators
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Discover Public Health
DO  - 10.1186/s12982-026-03012-8
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-03012-8
AB  - Background Climate change poses significant threats to public health, necessitating proactive engagement from healthcare professionals. However, there is limited research on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of future physicians in Egypt regarding climate change and health. This study aims to fill this gap and generate insights that can guide institutional reforms and policy development. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and November 2024, involving 797 medical students and interns from 34 Egyptian medical schools. Data were collected using convenience sampling via an online anonymous questionnaire, covering sociodemographics, climate change knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results Most participants (94.3%) were aware of climate change. However, knowledge of indirect health impacts, such as links to social inequality (52.7%) and reproductive health (45%), was limited. The primary sources of climate change information were the internet (87.8%) and social media (86.2%), and 74.5% of participants agreed that climate change should be included in medical curricula. Students exposed to climate change content in their curriculum demonstrated significantly higher personal mitigation and advocacy practices scores compared to their peers (both p < .05). While 69.9% believed physicians should raise awareness, only 30% reported encouraging climate-related local policies. Conclusion Most of the participating medical students were aware of climate change but lacked comprehensive knowledge of its health impacts and advocacy engagement. Integrating climate change into medical curricula may facilitate preparing future climate-oriented healthcare professionals.
SN  - 3005-0774
ER  -