From clinic to climate: the experiences of Australian General Practitioners in climate and health advocacy — YRD
  1. Schedule
  2. Supporting Adaptation to Health Impacts (Oral Presentation)
  3. From clinic to climate: the experiences of Australian General Practitioners in climate and health advocacy

From clinic to climate: the experiences of Australian General Practitioners in climate and health advocacy (2955)

Janie Maxwell 1 , Grant Blashki 1 , Michelle Kermode 1
  1. The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia

Background

Climate change poses a significant threat to health (1). General practitioners (GPs) are an integral part of the public health response to climate change due to their skills, legitimacy as health advocates and position at the interface of the health system and community (2).

Aim

This study explores the role and experiences of Australian GPs in climate advocacy in order to identify challenges, enabling factors, avenues for engagement and priority climate and health topics for advocacy.

Method

Purposive sampling through Australian environmental and health networks recruited 14 GPs with more than five years’ experience in climate advocacy. In-depth semi-structured interviews explored triggers, challenges and enablers; avenues; and key topics for advocacy. Coding and thematic analysis with NVIVO-10 software generated key themes.

Results

Participants identified a tension between the clinical and public health role of the GP, but agreed that GPs are uniquely positioned for climate advocacy. Avenues for advocacy fell into four categories: climate and health promotion in consultation; political advocacy; community and medical education; and sustainable health service development. Participants described enabling factors such as public speaking skills, friendships and opportunities for professional development. Participants’ intrinsic motivations and explanations of the nexus between general practice and climate change were richly varied.

Conclusion

These findings illustrate that GPs have a diverse and valuable role in climate advocacy. Professional, advocacy and training organisations can apply these findings to better facilitate GP advocacy to promote the public health response to climate change.

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  1. 1. Costello A et al. Managing the health effects of climate change: Lancet and University College London Institute for Global Health Commission. The Lancet. 2009;373(9676):1693–733.
  2. 2. Blashki G et al. General Practitioners’ responses to global climate change-lessons from clinical experience and the clinical method. Asia Pac Fam Med. 2012;11(1):1–5.