Improving health professionals’ capacity to respond to the climate crisis: Outcomes of the Caribbean climate and health responder course

Abstract

Despite broad recognition of climate change as a critical health threat, a significant global knowledge gap persists among health professionals. To address this issue, the second iteration of the Caribbean Climate and Health Responder Course: Education For Action was launched in partnership with EarthMedic and EarthNurse (EM&EN), the University of the West Indies, and the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE). This course aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge, confidence, preparedness, and sense of professional responsibility regarding the health impacts of climate change in the Caribbean, using science-based evidence to improve communication and action among health professionals. The course was delivered online via Zoom, and featured 10 sessions that included lectures, case studies, and discussions, with simultaneous English and Spanish interpretation to reach a broader audience. Participants were evaluated through pre- and post-course surveys and a final exam, measuring changes in awareness, communication skills, preparedness, and sense of professional responsibility. Results from a self-reported survey of 505 participants showed significant improvements. The highest rating (10) was selected more frequently, indicating increased confidence in key areas: awareness of climate change impacts (12.3%), communication skills (18–21%), preparedness (14.8%), and responsibility in climate mitigation (12.7%). The final exam results confirmed a high pass rate, validating the course’s effectiveness. The findings suggest the course effectively bridged the knowledge gap and recommended ongoing updates to training content, a greater focus on communication skills, and localized preparedness training to address regional challenges.