Co-design and evaluation of an audio podcast about sustainable development goals for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students

Title: Co-design and evaluation of an audio podcast about sustainable development goals for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students<br/>Background<br/>The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are global targets addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change. Despite their relevance to healthcare, nursing and midwifery students often have limited awareness of the SDGs. To help bridge this gap, a co-designed audio podcast was developed as an educational resource to strengthen students’ knowledge and highlight the goals’ professional relevance.<br/>Methods<br/>A prospective study was undertaken at Queen’s University Belfast with 566 first-year nursing and midwifery students. A 60-minute podcast, co-designed with students and stakeholders, was integrated into the university’s learning platform. Knowledge and attitudes toward the SDGs were assessed using pre- and post-test questionnaires. Six months later, 37 students participated in focus groups to reflect on their experiences. Quantitative data were analysed using paired t-tests and descriptive statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.<br/>Results<br/>The podcast significantly improved students’ knowledge of the SDGs and their understanding of both professional and personal relevance. Post-test scores showed gains across all three domains: knowledge, professional relevance, and personal relevance. Students valued the podcast as an accessible and engaging learning tool, though some were unsure about replaying it. Focus groups highlighted three themes: ‘More than you know’ (expanded knowledge), ‘Nurse-Midwife Nudges’ (small behaviour changes), and ‘Fitting Format’ (preference for audio-based learning).<br/>Discussion<br/>Findings indicate that audio podcasts can be an effective and acceptable way to raise awareness of SDGs among nursing and midwifery students, positively shaping knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intentions. The co-design approach proved valuable in tailoring the resource to learners’ needs and preferences.<br/>