Adaptation and mitigation for the planetary health crisis: A scoping review from the perspective of primary health care providers

Abstract

Climate-related adverse health outcomes are on the rise worldwide, and primary health care providers are at the forefront of the growing climate-health crisis. There is an urgent need for a codification of solutions and strategies for adaptation, resilience, and transformation in primary health care. This scoping review sought to answer the following research question: "What strategies are being implemented across all forms of primary health care to adapt to and address the climate crisis?” After iterative axial coding of the 94 retained papers, 15 themes emerged: community engagement; reaching vulnerable populations; transdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration; clinical strategies; research, surveillance; pluralism; patient education; continuing education and community of practice; benefits of nature; infrastructure resilience; advocacy; conservation; redefining health; provider wellbeing; and impact of health care. It behooves primary health care practitioners, especially those within dominant systems, to advocate strategies that promote health in all systems and policies. The planetary health crisis is a health crisis. It is urgent, it is human-created, and it can be mitigated.