“We should be aware that the environment and health influence one another,” says Michael Galatsch. The nursing scientist and Professor of Global and Planetary Health wants to raise awareness of this issue among healthcare professionals. He argues that it is necessary if they are to cope with the challenges of the present and the future.
“If increasing numbers of people in the healthcare professions come to believe that we should strive for sustainability, then we can make a real difference,” says Galatsch. He knows that nurses, midwives and occupational therapists can make a significant difference both to individual patients and their environments, as well as within communities and organisations. “They are multipliers. When it comes to health issues, they are trusted experts and can therefore play an important preventive role.” Yet many professionals are barely aware of this.
ZHAW MSc Global Health module
Educating through direct contact
For this reason, Galatsch has developed and now leads a module on the topic of global health for the ZHAW School of Health Sciences. The compulsory module is designed to promote systemic thinking and an understanding of interrelationships on a global scale. A recurring theme running throughout the module is sustainability in its various dimensions. The planetary health component deals specifically with environmental issues. “Here we discuss climate scenarios and the impact of planetary health on human health,” says Galatsch.
For him, maintaining a focus on the role of healthcare professionals is essential. Currently, almost 80 students from the degree programmes in Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Midwifery take the Global Health module each year. “These professionals often have direct contact with people in a variety of settings: in hospitals, in people’s homes and in the communities where care is provided. It is precisely in these contexts that they can raise awareness and contribute to prevention.”
How climate change affects health
The classic example, and one that has been extensively researched to date, is heatwaves. They are becoming ever more frequent, occurring at shorter intervals and reaching even higher temperatures. It is therefore increasingly important for healthcare professionals to understand the risks and, in particular, to raise awareness among vulnerable patients and those around them. “The risk affects many people – and not only in domestic settings,” says Galatsch.
For example, there is clear evidence of significant interactions between heat and schizophrenia. In psychiatric care, mortality rates can rise by a factor of three during heatwaves. “Healthcare professionals need to be aware of facts like these, and it is our responsibility to communicate them,” Galatsch is convinced. Only then can professionals make use of their regular contact with affected individuals to fulfil their specific role as counsellors and contribute to preventive healthcare.
Michael Galatsch
Professor of Global and Planetary Health
“Healthcare professionals need to understand how global issues affect their daily work and the health of their patients, and how they can help to mitigate this impact.”
Empower and motivate
This special role also means that healthcare professionals have a particular responsibility when it comes to sustainability and health. “We want to raise awareness of this role among healthcare professionals and equip them with the tools they need to fulfil it,” says Galatsch. He believes it represents a great opportunity to influence both health outcomes and sustainable development – together with many other professions. “We think in transdisciplinary terms: healthcare professionals, working alongside social workers, landscape architects, urban planners and many others can bring about a lasting improvement in our quality of life.”
Although prevention and sustainability have so far played only a (too) minor role in the Swiss healthcare system, Galatsch notes that awareness of their interconnections and the developments in these areas is growing all the time. He observes increasing levels of understanding and creativity among students, as well as a growing willingness to take on responsibility. In the Global Health module, he and his colleagues aim to reinforce this motivation. “This is precisely our mission: to motivate and empower nurses to think and work in a sustainable and holistic way,” says Galatsch.
Making the most of every opportunity
This is why it is important to him and his colleagues to highlight areas where action is possible. This is especially true given all the negative impacts of climate change, for example, and the outlook for the future, which is bleak in many respects. Wherever it is possible to make a difference, opportunities should be taken. “Perhaps the healthcare professionals we are training today will, in their future daily practice, identify where there is potential for more sustainable approaches in their own workplaces. We need to make use of even the smallest levers.”
Is a single compulsory module enough to foster such a mindset? “Probably not. As with any topic, it helps if we receive regular input and occasional nudges. However, it provides a good foundation and sharpens our awareness of these issues,” says Michael Galatsch. With this module as part of its Nursing, Midwifery and Occupational Therapy degree programmes, the ZHAW is making an important contribution within Switzerland.
