Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity.

dc.contributor.author

Dalapati, Trisha

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Alway, Emily J

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Mantri, Sneha

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Mitchell, Phillip

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George, Ian A

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Kaplan, Samantha

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Andolsek, Kathryn M

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Velkey, J Matthew

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Lawson, Jennifer

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Muzyk, Andrew J

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Grinnell, Frederick

dc.date.accessioned

2024-06-18T14:01:51Z

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2024-06-18T14:01:51Z

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2024-01

dc.description.abstract

Introduction

Due to the health consequences arising from climate change, medical students will inevitably interact with affected patients during their training and careers. Accordingly, medical schools must incorporate education on the impacts of climate change on health and equity into their curricula. We created a curricular thread called "Climate Change, Health, and Equity" in the first-year preclinical medical program to teach foundational concepts and foster self-reflection and critical consciousness.

Methods

The authors developed a continuum of practice including administrators, educators and faculty members, students, and community partners to plan and design curricular activities. First-year medical students at Duke University School of Medicine participated in seven mandatory foundational lectures and two experiential learning opportunities in the local community. Following completion of activities, students wrote a critical reflection essay and completed a self-directed learning exercise. Essays were evaluated using the REFLECT rubric to assess if students achieved critical reflection and for thematic analysis by Bloom's Taxonomy.

Results

All students (118) submitted essays. A random sample of 30 (25%) essays underwent analysis. Evaluation by the REFLECT rubric underscored that all students were reflecting or critically reflecting on thread content. Thematic analysis highlighted that all students (30/30, 100%) were adept at identifying new areas of medical knowledge and connecting concepts to individual experiences, institutional practices, and public health and policy. Most students (27/30; 90%) used emotionally laden words, expressing negative feelings like frustration and fear but also positive sentiments of solidarity and hope regarding climate change and effects on health. Many students (24/30; 80%) expressed actionable items at every level including continuing self-directed learning and conversing with patients, minimizing healthcare waste, and advocating for climate-friendly policies.

Conclusion

After participating in the curricular thread, most medical students reflected on cognitive, affective, and actionable aspects relating to climate change, health, and equity.
dc.identifier

PONE-D-23-31947

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1932-6203

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1932-6203

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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/31196

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eng

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Public Library of Science (PLoS)

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PloS one

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10.1371/journal.pone.0303615

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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

dc.subject

Humans

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Problem-Based Learning

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Curriculum

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Education, Medical, Undergraduate

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Students, Medical

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Female

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Male

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Climate Change

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Health Equity

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Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Mantri, Sneha|0000-0003-4556-0522

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Kaplan, Samantha|0000-0001-5340-1754

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Andolsek, Kathryn M|0000-0001-7994-3869

duke.contributor.orcid

Lawson, Jennifer|0009-0006-2044-8488

duke.contributor.orcid

Muzyk, Andrew J|0000-0002-6904-2466

pubs.begin-page

e0303615

pubs.issue

5

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

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School of Medicine

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School of Nursing

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Staff

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Nursing

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Clinical Science Departments

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Institutes and Centers

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Family Medicine and Community Health

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Pediatrics

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Family Medicine and Community Health, Family Medicine

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University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

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University Institutes and Centers

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Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

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Neurology

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Neurology, Movement Disorders

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Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development

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Initiatives

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Duke Science & Society

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Medical Education

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Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health

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Medical Center Library & Archives

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

19

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