Saliha ŞAHİN
Eurasian Journal of Family Medicine - 2026;15(2):86-96
Aim: To examine medical students' perspectives on the relationship between climate change -health, their ability to recognize climate -sensitive diseases, and their interest in receiving education on this topic. Methods : This descriptive, cross -sectional study was conducted among first - and sixth -year medical students at Marmara University during the 2024 -2025 academic year. Data were collected via a 16 -item online questionnaire between April and June 2025 covering socio -demographic characteristics, perceptions of climate -related health threats, awareness of climate -sensitive diseases, and views on curriculum integration. Results : Of the 217 respondents (response rate: 46.6%), 66.8% were female. Most participants stated that climate change threatens human, animal, and environmental health and increases pandemic risk. Moderate climate anxiety was reported by 69.1%. Students most fr equently associated climate change with skin cancers, respiratory and infectious diseases, and injuries/deaths due to extreme weather events, while cardiovascular diseases and malnutrition were less recognized. Among vector -borne diseases, malaria, Crimean -Congo haemorrhagic fever, and West Nile virus infection were the most identified. Sixth -year students more often recognized certain low -endemic diseases. Female students reported higher climate anxiety while male students were less willing to receive training. O f the participants, 76.9% expressed interest in climate change -health education, and 57.1% preferred mandatory integration into the curriculum. Conclusion : Climate change -health education that reflects national risks and does not impose additional burden on the existing curriculum should be integrated into medical education. Family medicine academics can play a leading role in this process.
