EP525 - A Survey of Medical Students’ Attitudes Towards Sustainable Healthcare

Abstract Aims As the climate crisis becomes increasingly prevalent, so does emphasis on environmental sustainability. The healthcare sector (a significant contributor to environmental impact) is particularly of interest: sustainable healthcare and awareness within the NHS is crucial. However, few medical schools include environmental teaching in their curricula. We undertook this survey to assess environmental awareness and perspectives amongst medical students. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed to London medical students. Participants were asked demographic data, questions concerning the environmental impact of products and practices in the NHS, and methods to reduce healthcare’s environmental impact. Results 87% of students stated that healthcare’s environmental impact is of concern to them, 97% agreed that the environmental impact of products should be considered during development. 65% agreed that the environmental impact of a product should influence its use, but 95% agreed that a device being recyclable/reusable would influence their practice. Students felt the factor most negatively impacting the environmental burden of healthcare was ‘disposable plastic items’, in 57% of responses, and ‘general waste’ in 44%. Conclusions Most medical students found healthcare's environmental impact concerning, expressing a desire to choose the most sustainable options. Whilst the distribution of academic year and the London demographic limited this study, we believe it is the first of its kind assessing medical student's attitudes towards the environmental impact of healthcare. With this initial benchmark, we hope future surveys will assess and improve the environmental awareness of doctors in training, as well as the inclusion of environmental teaching in medical school.