An overview of environmental attitudes, awareness, sensitivity, and literacy of nursing students in Turkey

Abstract

The environmental factors are vital determinants for health and wellness of organisms. Because of the population increase, technological developments, more industrial activities and dense traffic, environmental pollution, and destruction became one of the major problems in the world. Various studies indicated that most of the diseases and health problems are closely related with negative environmental factors. Considering the roles and responsibilities of the nurses, increasing the knowledge and awareness of nursing students on environmental issues has vital importance in terms of protecting and improving health. This paper aimed to evaluate the studies on environmental attitudes, awareness, sensitivity, and literacy of nursing students in Turkey. This assessment is important to improve and upgrade these characteristics of nursing students and nurses. It also has an importance for public health. The results of the studies generally indicated that majority of the nursing students had moderate levels of environmental attitudes, awareness, sensitivity, and literacy. Most of the studies confirm that the levels of nursing students on these subjects closely related with components of nursing education and content and composition of subjects. The common result obtained from the studies is to increase the number of subjects and social activities on environmental issues in nursing education for higher environmental awareness, sensitivity, and literacy of nursing students, understanding, and eliminating the problems arising from environmental factors. Considering the roles and responsibilities of the nurses, increasing the knowledge and awareness of students on environmental issues has vital importance in terms of protecting and improving health.