Climate Change and Neurology Education
Benton Westbrook1, Daniel Brooks1, Jack Lowry1, Christopher Hinds1, Manasa Muppirala1, Utkarsh Sharma1, Harinandan Sainath1, Rachel Adlis1, Okeanis Vaou1
1UT Health San Antonio
Objective:
This project aimed to educate medical students on climate change and weather, focusing on raising awareness about its potential impacts on neurological disorders.
Background:
  • There is a significant lack of literature regarding the integration of climate change and extreme weather education into medical school curricula.

  • A PubMed search using MeSH terms related to climate change, weather, and medical education yielded 153 results.

  • Another search using the same terms from the first search plus terms related to neurology and neurological disorders returned no relevant findings.

  • This limited literature highlights the critical need to address the educational gap by advocating for the incorporation of climate awareness and its impact on neurological health into medical school curricula.

Design/Methods:
  • A lecture was created that addressed the impacts of climate change and weather on individuals suffering from neurological conditions.

  • The lecture was incorporated into the Neuroscience Course of second year medical students.

  • All students were asked to complete an evaluation survey following the lecture. 

  • The survey consisted of 5 questions employing a Likert scale to assess students’ views on the lecture and a free-response question to allow qualitative input.

Results:
  • 91% of students believe that climate change is a real and growing threat.

  • 73% plan to consider climate in their future practice.

  • 77% reported that the lecture had enriched their medical education.

  • 82% believe there is a need for further research regarding the intersection of climate and medicine.

  • Students wanted to learn more about underserved populations and climate change.

Conclusions:
  • Integrating the effects of climate change into medical education, particularly within neurology, is of the utmost importance.

  • There is a lack of research regarding the intersection of climate and healthcare in the U.S..

  • Given the geographical diversity of our country, expanding the breadth of climate and climate change research in Neurology, across the U.S. is an important next step.

10.1212/WNL.0000000000204941