Promoting Sustainability Healthcare Practices: A Quasi-experimental Study on Nursing Education in Governmental Hospitals

Background: Climate change, driven mainly by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, poses severe risks to global health and stability. As healthcare practices contribute to environmental degradation, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable healthcare. As crucial healthcare providers, nurses play a vital role in adopting sustainable practices, yet they often need more education on these topics. This study addresses this gap by evaluating an educational programme to enhance nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward sustainable practices in healthcare settings. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward sustainable healthcare practices, thereby promoting a more environmentally conscious approach to healthcare. Methods: A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test/post-test design was implemented with 30 nurses from Mosul's governmental hospitals. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered before and after the educational program, which consisted of eight sessions covering topics from energy conservation to sustainable procurement practices. Reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention scores for knowledge and attitudes. Results: The intervention significantly improved participants' knowledge and attitudes toward sustainability. Average knowledge scores increased from 50 (SD = 8.2) pre-intervention to 75 (SD = 5.6) post-intervention, while attitude scores rose from 60 (SD = 7.3) to 82 (SD = 6.1). These findings suggest that structured educational programmes effectively elevate understanding and positive perceptions regarding sustainable healthcare practices. Conclusion: The educational programme enhanced nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward sustainability, indicating that similar interventions could benefit healthcare sectors. Integrating sustainability education into nursing curricula is essential for equipping nurses with the skills to address healthcare's environmental impacts.