Understanding and experience of climate change in rural general practice in Aotearoa-New Zealand

Background Climate change is already affecting Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa-NZ). The public health effects are varied and complex, and rural primary care staff will be at the front line of effects and responses. However, little is known about their understanding and experience. Objectives To determine understanding, experiences and preparedness of rural general practice staff in Aotearoa-NZ about climate change and health equity. Methods A mixed-methods national cross-sectional survey of rural general practice staff was undertaken that included Likert-style and free-text responses. Quantitative data were analysed with simple descriptive analysis and qualitative data were thematically analysed using a deductive framework based on Te Whare Tapa Wha. Results A proportion of survey respondents remained unsure about climate science and health links, although many others already reported a range of negative climate change health impacts on their communities, and expected these to worsen. Twenty to thirty percent of respondents lacked confidence in their health service's capability to provide support following extreme weather. Themes included acknowledgement that the health effects of climate change are highly varied and complex, that the health risks for rural communities combine climate change and wider environmental degradation and that climate change will exacerbate existing health inequities. Conclusions The study adds to sparse information on climate change effects on health in rural primary care. We suggest that tailored professional education on climate change science and rural health equity is still needed, while urgent resourcing and training for interagency disaster response within rural and remote communities is needed.

Automated summary

This study examined the understanding, experiences, and preparedness of rural general practice staff in Aotearoa-NZ regarding climate change and health equity. The results showed that while many respondents reported negative climate change health impacts on their communities and expected these impacts to worsen, some remained unsure about the connection between climate science and health. Additionally, a percentage of respondents lacked confidence in their health service's capability to provide support following extreme weather.