ArticleFamily practice2023
What can we learn from Australian general practices taking steps to be more environmentally sustainable? A qualitative study.
Article in Family practice, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- From theory to practice: using the Normalization Process Theory and Theoretical Domains Framework to understand implementation of decarbonization in general practice.Family practice · 2025Pooled it
- Implementation of decarbonisation actions in general practice: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.BMJ open · 2025Pooled it
- Supporting general practices to develop green action plans to reduce carbon emissions: development and evaluation of the feasibility of a workshop-based intervention.Primary health care research & development · 2026Article
- Planetary health and environmentally sustainable healthcare: perceptions of primary care practitioners in Ireland - a qualitative study.BMJ open quality · 2025Article
- Article
- Climate change and environmental sustainability in emergency medicine: a narrative review.Annals of translational medicine · 2025Review
- Licensing Issues at Primary Clinics Resulting From the Omnibus Law in Indonesia: A Case Study From Surabaya City.International journal of health policy and management · 2025Article
- Sustainable nursing actions in health service waste management: a scoping review.Revista brasileira de enfermagem · 2025Article
- Ambition With Uncertainty: Exploring Policy-Makers' Perspectives on Pathways to Net Zero Healthcare.International journal of health policy and management · 2025Article
- Primary healthcare's carbon footprint and sustainable strategies to mitigate its contribution: a scoping review.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Australian and Canadian clinicians' views and application of 'carbon health literacy': a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Implementation of decarbonisation actions in general practice: a systematic review and narrative synthesis protocol.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Learning from practice - A rapid review of climate resilient and low carbon health systems - Case studies in six western pacific countries.The journal of climate change and healthReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundClimate change is impacting the health of individuals worldwide. At the same time, the healthcare sector contributes to carbon emissions. In Australia, healthcare contributes 7% of the country's carbon footprint. Research into the environmental impact and mitigation of carbon emissions in primary care is an emerging area.
objectiveTo explore staff perspectives on facilitators and barriers to environmental sustainability in 3 Australian general practices seeking to reduce their environmental impact.
methodsWe used a qualitative, case-study approach, conducting 23 semistructured interviews with staff across the 3 practices including nurses, administrative staff, and doctors. Observation of systems and staff behaviour relating to environmental sustainability was undertaken at 1 practice. Thematic analysis was conducted to determine themes relating to factors influencing the implementation of environmentally sustainable initiatives within practice settings.
resultsClimate mitigation efforts raised by participants were largely focussed on energy and waste reduction, rather than prescribing pharmaceuticals and staff and patient transport. Three main factors influencing change towards sustainable practice were identified: "Leadership," "Staff Engagement and Workplace Culture," and "Concomitant Benefits." A leadership team and workplace culture that valued environmental sustainability were found to be important facilitators, as were concomitant benefits, in particular financial savings. Barriers included what interviewees described as a lack of knowledge about initiatives with the highest impact, lack of understanding described by staff of the evidence behind particular initiatives, waning staff engagement and infection control concerns.
conclusionsOur research highlights several important factors that contribute to the implementation of intended environmentally sustainable initiatives in these 3 practices. Further education, research and high-level policy guidance on the potential environmental impact of prescribing pharmaceuticals, staff and patient transport and unnecessary tests and treatments are recommended to further promote environmental sustainability in primary care.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.