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

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dalapati, T; Alway, EJ; Mantri, S; Mitchell, P; George, IA; Kaplan, S; Andolsek, KM; Velkey, JM; Lawson, J; Muzyk, AJ
Published in: PLoS One
2024

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.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

PLoS One

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

2024

Volume

19

Issue

5

Start / End Page

e0303615

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students, Medical
  • Problem-Based Learning
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Equity
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate
  • Curriculum
  • Climate Change
 

Citation

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Dalapati, T., Alway, E. J., Mantri, S., Mitchell, P., George, I. A., Kaplan, S., … Muzyk, A. J. (2024). Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity. PLoS One, 19(5), e0303615. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303615
Dalapati, Trisha, Emily J. Alway, Sneha Mantri, Phillip Mitchell, Ian A. George, Samantha Kaplan, Kathryn M. Andolsek, J Matthew Velkey, Jennifer Lawson, and Andrew J. Muzyk. “Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity.PLoS One 19, no. 5 (2024): e0303615. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303615.
Dalapati T, Alway EJ, Mantri S, Mitchell P, George IA, Kaplan S, et al. Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity. PLoS One. 2024;19(5):e0303615.
Dalapati, Trisha, et al. “Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity.PLoS One, vol. 19, no. 5, 2024, p. e0303615. Pubmed, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0303615.
Dalapati T, Alway EJ, Mantri S, Mitchell P, George IA, Kaplan S, Andolsek KM, Velkey JM, Lawson J, Muzyk AJ. Development of a curricular thread to foster medical students' critical reflection and promote action on climate change, health, and equity. PLoS One. 2024;19(5):e0303615.

Published In

PLoS One

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

2024

Volume

19

Issue

5

Start / End Page

e0303615

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Students, Medical
  • Problem-Based Learning
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Equity
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate
  • Curriculum
  • Climate Change