AB064. Implementing planetary health into the nursing curriculum: a multi-methods study protocol

Background: In 2015, the legally binding Paris Agreement set a target to limit temperature rise to 1.5 ℃ with a cap of 2 ℃. This is unlikely to be achieved. Healthcare staff will be working in a changing global climate. Education must inform students about the impacts of healthcare activities upon climate change. The objective of this study is to plan, implement, and evaluate the implementation of planetary health into the nursing curriculum at the University of Auckland (UoA), including implementation of Indigenous traditional knowledge related to planetary health.

Methods: A single-site, multi-methods research study. Methods include an Integrative Review, a pre-and post-implementation observational study assessing student awareness of planetary health and the relevance to nursing, implementation of Planetary Health into the pre-registration nursing curriculum in the UoA/Waipapa Taumata Rau School of Nursing (SoN), and a post-implementation qualitative evaluation. This work will describe two studies within the wider project: study 1: pre-registration nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes towards planetary health, human health, environmental sustainability, and relevance to nursing (the PlaN study). Study 2: integration of planetary health into the pre-registration nursing curriculum. Process evaluation (the PlaN PE study).

Discussion: This will be the first time planetary health is included in the pre-registration nursing curriculum in the SoN at UoA. Understanding current knowledge, attitudes, and awareness will inform us about how to embed planetary health into the curriculum in a meaningful way, while preparing the nursing workforce and nurse leaders of the future. This project is unique in that it is placed in Aotearoa New Zealand, where the bicultural worldview of Te Ao Māori has a strong influence on health care education and practice. Therefore, the project will include indigenous knowledge to support actions to benefit planetary health.

Trial Registration: Open Science Framework Pre-Registration; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/QE43U.

Keywords: Climate change; curriculum; education; nursing; planetary health