Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40007820›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2024

Planetary health education in undergraduate medical education in Germany: results from structured interviews and an online survey within the national PlanetMedEd Project.

Fabio Grieco, Sandra Parisi, Anne Simmenroth, Michael Eichinger, Janina Zirkel, Sarah König, Jana Jünger, Eva Geck, Eva-Maria Schwienhorst-Stich

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Current status and challenges of planetary health education: a scoping review.Environmental health and preventive medicine · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Fabio GriecoDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Sandra ParisiDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Anne SimmenrothDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Michael EichingerCenter for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Janina ZirkelDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Sarah KönigInstitute of Medical Teaching and Medical Education Research, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Jana JüngerCARES Institute, Heidelberg, Germany.
Eva GeckDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Eva-Maria Schwienhorst-StichDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In light of the accumulating evidence, awareness and urgency to act upon the three planetary crises - climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution - the concept of Planetary Health underscores their profound implications for health and promotes actionable solutions to advance both wellbeing and ecological sustainability. Despite (inter)national calls to integrate Planetary Health into health workers' curricula, the current status of Planetary Health Education in undergraduate medical education in Germany is unclear. This study therefore aimed (a) to assess the current implementation of Planetary Health in undergraduate medical education in Germany and (b) to explore its characteristics as a foundation to develop evidence-informed recommendations for mainstreaming Planetary Health Education in medical schools in Germany. Methods: The study comprised structured interviews followed by an online survey, both targeting all 39 medical schools in Germany. In 2021, structured interviews were conducted with students, educators and deanery staff at medical schools. In 2023, educators and deanery staff participated in an online survey based on the findings from the interviews. Findings: In total, 80% of the 39 medical schools participated in the interviews, while 90% took part in the online survey. Based on integrated findings, 35 medical schools (90%) offered Planetary Health Education, with a median of two educational activities, including both stand-alone courses and lectures integrated into other courses. Despite an overall increase since winter semester 2021/2022, most educational activities were electives and not part of the mandatory curriculum. Innovative educational approaches and learning objectives differed significantly between mandatory and elective formats. In contrast to mandatory educational activities, student involvement was reported for the majority of electives and was significantly associated with transformative learning objectives. Interpretation: Despite a steady rise in teaching activities, mandatory Planetary Health Education remains insufficiently integrated into undergraduate medical education in Germany. Key criteria defining high-quality Planetary Health Education, such as innovative educational approaches, practical skills, and transformative learning, were primarily reflected in electives, that reach only a minority of students. To adequately equip the future healthcare workforce, the current barriers to successfully integrating Planetary Health into medical education must be systematically addressed and overcome.

Indexed as

climate change and healthcurriculum developmenteducation for sustainable healthcarehealth professions educationmedical schoolsOne HealthPlanetary HealthPlanetary Health Education

Identifiers

PMID40007820
PMCPMC11851124

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.