Work

Climate change education in undergraduate medical faculties in Türkiye: a national descriptive cross-sectional study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a critical threat to global health, with growing implications for clinical practice, health systems, and medical education. Medical professionals are expected not only to understand the health effects of climate change but also to engage in mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy efforts. As undergraduate medical education plays a foundational role in shaping future physicians, integrating climate-health content into medical curricula has become an urgent priority. However, the extent of curricular integration, faculty preparedness, and institutional support remains unclear in many countries, including Türkiye. This study assessed the status of climate change education in undergraduate medical faculties across Türkiye, identified perceived barriers and enablers, and explored institutional readiness for future curricular reform. A national descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey distributed to academic leaders in undergraduate medical education across Türkiye. The questionnaire explored curricular integration of climate change and health, perceived effectiveness, faculty preparedness, educational resources, institutional strategies, and barriers to integration. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were analyzed through thematic content analysis. Fifty-three faculties responded (response rate: 58.9%). Only 26% reported fully including climate change in their curricula, while 32% indicated partial integration and 42% reported no inclusion. Content was primarily embedded within existing mandatory courses and focused on basic concepts and health impacts. Topics such as climate literacy, mental health, and communication were rarely addressed. Only 5.7% of the respondents had received training on how to teach climate-health content. Institutional support was limited, with few faculties having dedicated structures or student-led initiatives. Perceived effectiveness was low, with 48.4% of respondents rating their current climate education as ineffective. Despite these limitations, over 80% rated climate education as important, and 83% supported the development of a national guidance tool. Climate change education in Türkiye’s undergraduate medical programs remains fragmented, underdeveloped, and inconsistently implemented. Despite growing awareness, structural and pedagogical barriers hinder progress. There is an urgent need for coordinated national strategies, faculty development initiatives, and resource investment to ensure that future physicians are adequately equipped to address the health impacts of climate change. Not applicable. This study was not a clinical trial and did not involve any intervention requiring trial registration.

Source: BMC Medical Education

DOI: 10.1186/s12909-026-10395-4

Authors: Demet Koç, Duygu Demirbaş Keskin, Melike Şahiner, Levent Altıntaş

Institution: Acıbadem University

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,990