To investigate Australian physiotherapy students' beliefs and attitudes towards the relationship between climate change and health.
A cross-sectional online survey was completed by Australian physiotherapy students enrolled in entry-to-practice physiotherapy programs between June 2024 – October 2024. The 25 survey questions were modified from two published surveys designed to collect data on beliefs and attitudes towards climate change and health. Survey distribution occurred via the Australian Physiotherapy Association, physiotherapy programs in Australian universities, social media and professional networks. Data were analysed descriptively.
Of the 151 survey respondents, participants were aged 24±6 years and 63% identified as female. Most respondents (79%) were enrolled in an undergraduate program, and 21% in postgraduate program.
The majority of respondents (96%, n=131) reported they believe that climate change is happening, and of those 98% (n=128) were certain climate change is happening. Ninety percent (n=122) believed that climate change is relevant to direct patient care and over 65% believed that specific groups (e.g. people with chronic diseases and young children) will disproportionately experience negative effects from climate change.
Respondents were varied in their belief about their knowledge of the association between climate change and its health impact with 5% rating themselves “Very knowledgeable”; 44% “Moderately knowledgeable”; 37% “Modestly knowledgeable”; and14% “Not knowledgeable”.
While 55% of respondents thought the association between climate change and health should be integrated within the physiotherapy program curriculum, 16% of respondents disagreed. Similarly, 41% of respondents agreed that learning about the impact of climate change on health should be a priority in the physiotherapy program curriculum, which was disputed by 28% of respondents who disagreed that it is a priority.
Most surveyed Australian physiotherapy students reported believing in the existence of climate change and its impact on health. The findings of an awareness-knowledge gap in this study on physiotherapy students was consistent with a previous report on Australian physiotherapists. There were discrepancies in physiotherapy students’ views about whether this content should be integrated into the curriculum.
Findings of this study highlight a disconnect between Australian physiotherapy students’ beliefs about the association between climate change and health and their priorities in the physiotherapy curriculum. This may impact their perceived value of incorporating relevant education and training into the physiotherapy program curriculum.
Climate and health
Climate change
