The ecological footprint of physicians: A survey of physicians in Canada, India, and USA

PLOS ONE · 6 authors, 3 centres

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TL;DR

This cross-sectional online survey of 162 physicians and medical students found that physicians, especially in Canada and the USA, have a large ecological footprint. Those who frequently discuss climate change at work and home were significantly more likely to have taken action to reduce their footprint.

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An online survey was conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 among 162 medical students, residents, and staff physicians in Canada, India, and the USA to examine their ecological footprint, defined by diet, housing, and transport. The study found that only 12% of respondents had a low ecological footprint, with physicians from India showing lower footprints than those from Canada or the USA. The findings suggest that promoting dialogue about climate change may be an effective strategy to increase sustainable actions among physicians, who could model low-emission lifestyles for society.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

public health

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AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10497187

The ecological footprint of physicians: A survey of physicians in Canada, India, and USA

PLOS ONE

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ABSTRACT

Combating climate change may be the greatest public health opportunity of the 21st century. While physicians play an important role in addressing climate change, given their affluence in society, they may be an important source of greenhouse gas emissions themselves. We sought to examine the size and nature of the ecological footprint of physicians and medical students. We conducted an online survey from December 2021-May 2022 examining resource consumption, changes in consumption patterns over time, and beliefs about climate change. Participants were medical students, residents, and staff physicians in Canada, India, or USA. Only 20 out of 162 valid respondents had a low ecological footprint (12%), defined as meat intake ≤2 times per week, living in an apartment or condominium, and using public transport, bicycle, motorcycle or walking to work. 14 of these 20 participants were from India. 91% of participants were open to reducing their own ecological footprint, though only 40% had made changes in that regard. 49% participants who discussed climate change at work and at home had decreased their ecological footprint, compared to 29% of participants who rarely engaged in such conversations (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.24–4.63, P = 0.01). We conclude that physicians have a large ecological footprint, especially those from Canada and USA. A majority of physicians are interested in reducing their ecological footprint, and those who engage in conversations around climate change are more likely to have done so. Talking frequently about climate change, at work and at home, will likely increase climate change action amongst physicians.

CITATION EXPORT

Faramarz Jabbari-Zadeh, Arsha Karbassi, Aditya Khetan et al.. The ecological footprint of physicians: A survey of physicians in Canada, India, and USA. PLOS ONE. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291501

AUTHORS

6 · 3 CENTRES

Faramarz Jabbari-Zadeh, Arsha Karbassi, Aditya Khetan, Radoslaw Wolniak, Radoslaw Wolniak, Radoslaw Wolniak

1 Post-Graduate Medicine, Internal Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
2 Department of Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Silesian University of Technology, POLAND

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Radoslaw Wolniak