Background : Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating
environmental threat and there is overwhelming evidence of wide range
of implications for human health. To mitigate this, well-prepared
medical man power is required. Objectives : The objectives of this
study were (1) to assess the awareness regarding climate change and its
health hazards among the medical students and (2) to recommend the
awareness campaigns regarding climate change and its health hazards for
students based on the results. Settings and Design: This observational
study was conducted at the Medical College in Pune city. Materials and
Methods: Medical students from all years of M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of
Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) who had given the written consent
were included in this study. A self-administered, pre-tested,
questionnaire was used. Responses were evaluated. Statistical Analysis
Used: Proportions, percentage, and Chi-square test. Results: A total of
250 medical students were included in this study. In all, 246 (98.40%)
students commented that global climate is changing, while 245 (98%)
students opined that human activities are contributing to climate
change. The commonest source of information about climate change was
newspaper and magazines (78.20%). Majority commented that deforestation
and industrial and vehicular pollution contribute most to climate
change. According to 47.50% of the students, health-related issues are
priority for climate change prevention strategy. According to 65.10%
students, direct physical hazards of extreme climatic events are most
important health-related impact of climate change, followed by natural
disaster-related health hazards (43.50%), waterborne diseases (27.60%),
vector-borne diseases (17.60%), and malnutrition (10%). There was
statistically significant difference found between year of MBBS of the
students and the awareness regarding United Nations Federation on
Climate Change, Kyoto protocol (χ2 = 7.85, P = 0.02), and
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (χ2 = 12.77, P = 0.002).
A significant difference was found between the awareness about health
impact of climate change at different places (χ2 = 11.25, P =
0.001). Conclusion: Students had awareness regarding health hazards of
the climate change, but improvement for mitigation is required. It is
suggested that a large nation-wide awareness survey regarding climate
change and its health hazards is necessary to determine the
preparedness of medical students and also to suggest any changes in the
current curriculum
