Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40329287›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2025

Perceptions of medical and public health professionals on climate change and emerging health challenges in Pakistan: a multi-scale approach.

Hira Tariq, Shahmeen Nazar, Umm-E-Rabab, Sameena Ourangzaib

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Hira TariqDepartment of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. hira.tariq@aku.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2841-2600
Shahmeen NazarUniversity of Applied Sciences, HAW Hamburg, DE, Germany.
Umm-E-RababLiaquat National Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sameena OurangzaibAPPNA Institute of Public Health, Karachi, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesClimate change is a significant global health threat, disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income countries. Urban centres like Karachi, Pakistan, face rising incidences of vector-borne and waterborne diseases because of changing climate (CC). This study aimed to explore the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding climate change, its health impacts, and their role in addressing these challenges.

methodsA qualitative study was conducted using nine focus group discussions with 46 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and public health experts from three major hospitals and two postgraduate institutions in Karachi. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify both manifest and latent themes in the data.

resultsThe analysis revealed seven major themes: awareness of climate change, health impacts, economic and social consequences, environmental and natural disasters, the role of healthcare professionals, mitigation strategies, and policy challenges. Participants demonstrated varied levels of awareness, influenced by their educational background and professional specialization, with public health professionals exhibiting a broader understanding compared to other healthcare workers. Key concerns included the rise of infectious diseases, food insecurity, and urban resource strain. Participants identified barriers such as inadequate training, limited resources, and weak policy enforcement that hinder their ability to address climate impacts effectively.

conclusionsHealthcare professionals in Karachi play a critical role in mitigating climate-related health impacts. Enhanced education, integration of climate change into medical curricula, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential. Strengthened policies and systemic investments are needed to empower healthcare workers as leaders in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelClimate ChangeHealth PersonnelPublic HealthAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMalePakistanPerceptionQualitative ResearchClimate changeContinued medical educationHealthcare professionalsInfectious diseasesKarachiMitigation strategiesQualitative study

Identifiers

PMID40329287
PMCPMC12056980

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.