Climate-health tele-education as a force multiplier: A train-the-trainer ECHO course series

Introduction

Climate change is a health emergency and healthcare professionals represent critical and trusted points of contact between communities and the health effects of climate change.  However, healthcare professionals require training in the complex dynamics governing the interaction between climate and health as this education is not a part of traditional healthcare oriented curricula.

Methods

From February-April 2022, a free, live-virtual, 8-session climate and health course was offered in a collaboration between the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), Project ECHO and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The goal of the course was to increase health professionals’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and communication skills related to the climate crisis. Participants were invited to complete pre-, post- and 6-month post surveys to assess their readiness to lead climate and health education and programmatic development at their own institutions or within their own communities.

Results

Between February-April 2022, 1,047 unique attendees participated in the Climate and Health Responder ECHO series. The primary outcome measured of communication regarding climate change trended toward increased communication. Survey respondents reported increased motivation to teach climate and health topics and confidence in training others following completion of the course.

Conclusion

Live-virtual, evidence, and competency-based courses have the potential to change health professional behaviors towards addressing the climate impacts on health and equip health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement climate and health programs in their own work in order to scale-up climate and health knowledge, self-efficacy, and communication skills.