Identifying the Educational Needs of Medical Students in the Field of the Environment: The Missing Link in the Curriculum

Abstract

Background: Environmental education for general medical students can play an effective role in preventing environmental damage and maintaining the health of society. The purpose of this research is to identify the educational needs of the environment in the field of medicine. Methods: This research was a qualitative study with an inductive approach, which was conducted with semi-structured interviews and document review. The sample was purposefully selected from experienced and expert professors of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in the field of environmental education. The data was analyzed by the conventional content analysis method. Findings: Finally, 5 main categories and 7 subcategories were obtained from the interviews. The main categories included "Environmental problems of human societies with emphasis on provincial society", environmental problems of the medical field, "Why environmental education", "What is environmental education" and "How environmental education". Environment", "Cultural poverty", "Poor management", "Lack of necessary knowledge, attitude and skills", "Sustainable development education", "The need for environmental education", and "Longitudinal integration in general medical curriculum planning" subcategories these study was obtained. Conclusion: In this research, the educational needs of the medical field in the field of environmental education include: the main categories of environmental problems of human societies (local society), environmental problems of the medical community, why, what, and how to teach the environment, and among the important Sub-Categories are poverty. The culture of the society, poor management, lack of knowledge, attitude, and necessary skills in environmental education in the field of health and treatment, and longitudinal integration were mentioned. Environmental education in medical fields is necessary and complementary to the creation and continuation of health in human societies, therefore, environmental education is an inevitable necessity. © 2023 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.