To understand health professionals' perceptions of climate change and its impact on health and their perceived role. This was a systematic review of qualitative studies. A systematic review of qualitative evidence from three databases (MEDLINE, CINHAL and PsycInfo) was conducted according to the Cochrane method in June 2024. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed for the synthesis report. A total of 215 results were obtained, of which 10 studies were included on the basis of the inclusion criteria. The selected studies included predominantly nurses, physicians and public health professionals, with a smaller representation of other allied health professionals from Europe, North America and Africa. These studies were published between 2015 and 2024. Three themes were identified: "general knowledge of climate change", "role of health professionals in addressing climate change" and "barriers to action on climate change". Health professionals are aware of the health risks posed by climate change, but some barriers prevent or hinder their action. The main barriers are poor, overly generalised information and training, and a demotivating environment. Health professionals are aware of the existence and dangers of climate change but are less aware of their role in the face of climate change. Contextualised training and an enabling environment are needed. It is essential to study the perceptions of each group of health professionals at the national or subnational level.

Background/Objective: Nurses play a critical role in addressing climate change. They are instrumental in both mitigation and adaptation to its effects. Through care provision, education, management, policy development, and research, nurses can undertake a variety of specific actions in response to climate change. However, their perceptions of this challenge remain under-researched. This study aims to investigate Spanish nurses’ knowledge of climate change and its impact on health. Methods: This is a qualitative descriptive study based on the constructivist paradigm. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used to recruit nurses from emergency services, geriatrics, cardiology, respiratory medicine and primary care in nine different regions of Spain. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted. Data analysis was carried out by three researchers via a three-stage inductive thematic analysis approach. Results: The sample consisted of 31 nurses, predominantly women (77.42%), with a mean age of 41 years. Seventy percent of the participants had less than 15 years of experience in the service. Four categories were identified: (i) general knowledge of climate change; (ii) knowledge of climate change and health; (iii) knowledge of actions to address climate change; and (iv) knowledge development. Overall, the nurses demonstrated awareness of the risks posed by climate change as well as actions to respond. However, barriers such as a lack of formal training and eco-anxiety affect their knowledge acquisition. Conclusions: Nurses play an important role in the response to climate change. However, more comprehensive and higher-quality educational programmes, provided by academic institutions, workplaces, and professional associations, are needed. This study was prospectively registered with the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cuenca Health Area on 25 January 2022 (registration number 2021/PI3721).

Background: Climate change represents a serious threat to the health of the population. Nurses are the ideal group to act on the health risks posed by climate change. However, their perception of this phenomenon is unknown, as existing studies are very scarce. An in-depth study of nurses’ perceptions of climate change is needed. For this purpose, qualitative research is the best alternative. Objective: To understand nurses’ perceptions of their role as health assets in relation to climate change. Methods: A qualitative study will be carried out. The sample will be selected by means of purposive sampling with a maximum variation approach and will be defined by the data saturation criterion and will include nurses from different health units and regions of Spain. Semistructured interviews will be conducted using a videoconferencing platform. The interviews will be transcribed and analysed by several researchers using the logic of a three-step thematic analysis. Discussion: The results of this study will provide for the first time a clear, in-depth, and representative picture of Spanish nurses’ perceptions of climate change. This is essential for the development of concrete measures through which nurses become real health assets in the face of climate change.