Table 1 Content-related focus group interview with students who underwent the objective structured clinical examination on planetary health
How do you think planetary health should be integrated into teaching? | |
Proposal | Reason/Additional comments |
Adopt as a compulsory subject | • Increasing relevance • There will be little additional burden on students • Concise information is preferred to excessive detail • The elective may be considered as an additional course offered to students |
Integrate planetary health into existing courses | • Planetary health should not be drowned out as a minor issue • New and existing learning content can be coherent • High learning effect is expected |
Address advanced semesters | • Planetary health includes cross-curricular issues that require broad knowledge • Up to date knowledge at the start of the career |
Convey knowledge in seminars | • Allows students to actively contribute, discuss, and interact • Allows training of communication skills • Seminars can be varied, inspiring and fun |
Use OSCE as teaching and feedback technique rather than as final exam | • Students rated OSCE as more effective than workshops and much more effective than online courses • OSCE puts pressure on the students and thus increases the learning effect • OSCE should be conducted only after participation in seminars and courses • Mandatory examination could have a negative impact on intrinsic engagement |
What task/role do you see for yourself in planetary health as a future doctor? | |
Task/Role | Reason/Additional comments |
Ensure environmentally friendly use of energy, medicines, and materials in their area of responsibility | |
Provide patients, colleagues, and public officials with expert advice on preventing climate-related health risks | • In addition to patients, contacts may include those responsible for town planning and school education • Additional planetary health related counselling may not be feasible in all day clinical practice due to time constraints • Not specifically reimbursable |
Be able to diagnose climate-related diseases | |
Act as a multiplier of knowledge about planetary health | • A broad cross-section of society can be reached by medical doctors • Take advantage of the current public awareness of climate change |
Act as a role model | • Doctors are often seen as trustworthy people |
Motivate patients to take advantage of health-related benefits by living in a climate-friendly way | |