What the study found
The study found that most pharmacy students surveyed were aware of climate change and saw it as a serious threat to public health. However, only a smaller share reported taking steps to mitigate its impacts.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that climate change education, including sustainable healthcare practices and the pharmacist's role in addressing environmental challenges, could help bridge the gap between awareness and action. They also suggest that strengthening climate resilience through well-informed pharmacy professionals can contribute to public health and sustainability initiatives.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a cross-sectional online survey of fourth- and fifth-year undergraduate pharmacy students from public and private universities in Karachi, Pakistan. They used a content-reviewed questionnaire to assess demographics, awareness, perceptions, and responses related to climate change and health.
What worked and what didn't
Among 1,233 respondents, 98.2% were aware of the consequences of climate change, and 95% agreed that action must be taken to prevent it. About 43.1% reported taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, suggesting that theoretical awareness was much higher than active engagement; gender, university affiliation, and sources of information were also reported to significantly influence opinions and understanding.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe specific study limitations. Because the survey was cross-sectional and online, it captures responses at one point in time and relies on self-reported information from pharmacy students in Karachi.
Key points
- Most respondents were aware of the consequences of climate change.
- Many students viewed climate change as a serious threat to public health.
- Only 43.1% reported taking steps to mitigate climate impacts.
- Gender, university affiliation, and information sources influenced students' views and understanding.
- The authors suggest adding climate change education to pharmacy curricula.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Pharmacy students showed awareness of climate change, but limited action
- Authors:
- Tahmina Maqbool, Sadia Shakeel, Humera Ishaq, Majid Ali, Hina Rehman, Hira Naeem, Safila Naveed, Halima Sadia, Nazish Mumtaz, Saira Azhar, Anum Sattar, Suresh Shanmugham, Shazia Jamshed
- Institutions:
- Baqai Medical University, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, Dow University of Health Sciences, Habib University, Hamdard University, IMU University, IMU University, Iqra University, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Jinnah University for Women, Jinnah University for Women, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, University of Karachi, Ziauddin University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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