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- Exploring Portuguese physicians' perceptions of climate change impacts on health: a qualitative studyPublication . Ponte, Nidia; Alves, Fátima; Vidal, Diogo GuedesIntroduction: Health professionals, as primary responders to climate change health impacts, must be wellinformed to effectively communicate adaptation risks and benefits to influence both patients and organizations. This study was undertaken in order to survey how physicians in Portugal understand, explain, and experience the impacts of climate change on health in their clinical practice. Understanding physicians’ knowledge level on this subject also can help determine whether training is needed, and through what educational mechanisms. Material and methods: Using a semi-structured interview script, this study applied a qualitative methodology with interviews of 13 physicians from various medical specialties in Portugal, aged 28 to 73. Results: All participants recognized that human action is the main contributor to climate change, indicating that fossil fuels and overproduction are the main factors responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. They also agreed that climate change affects human health. However, they reported that they find connecting diseases to climate change challenging in their clinical practice, and expressed the need for training on the effects of climate change on health. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that physicians recognized the importance of understanding and communicating the connection between climate change and health in their daily practice, and that failure to recognize these impacts may affect appropriate diagnosis and preparedness for extreme climate events. These results highlight the urgency of addressing the health impacts of climate change and underscore the role of education and awareness.
- “We are not ready for this”: physicians’ perceptions on climate change information and adaptation strategies - qualitative study in PortugalPublication . Ponte, Nidia; Alves, Fátima; Vidal, Diogo GuedesBackground: Climate change presents several challenges to public health and its professionals. This article aims to fill a significant gap in the current literature by understanding physicians’ perceptions of their role in educating others about health adaptation to climate change. It also explores their knowledge of health policies related to this issue in Portugal and their perceived influence on the development of adaptation policies at both local and national levels within the health sector. Methods: To this end, we applied a qualitative and case study approach, interviewing 13 physicians in Portugal, including general practitioners and specialists. The data was collected using a semi-structured interview script, and a content analysis was performed to categorize the responses and gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. Results: The main results of this study highlight the need for a more systematic approach to training physicians, including the relationship between climate change and health. Concerning policies, this research highlights the need for more consistent communication and precise guidelines for dealing with the impacts of climate change on public health. Conclusion: As the first exploratory study focusing on Portuguese physicians, this research provides unique insights into their views on the potential to influence patient behavior and health policy. Importantly, it offers valuable recommendations for health policy strategies, particularly in awareness-raising and training plans for these professionals, thereby demonstrating the research’s practical implications.
- Metodologia participativa para o diálogo intercultural em saúde no contexto das alterações climáticasPublication . Ponte, Nidia; Alves, Fátima; Vidal, Diogo GuedesO E-poster intitulado "Metodologia Participativa para o Diálogo Intercultural em Saúde no Contexto das Alterações Climáticas", da autoria de Nídia Ponte*, Fátima Alves* e Diogo Guedes Vidal*, foi aceite e apresentado no Encontro Ciência 2025, que decorreu entre os dias 9 e 11 de julho, em formato híbrido, no Campus de Carcavelos da Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Este trabalho parte do reconhecimento de que as alterações climáticas intensificam desigualdades em saúde, afetando de forma desproporcionada grupos sociais vulneráveis. Em resposta a este desafio, é proposta uma abordagem metodológica participativa que visa o desenvolvimento de estratégias de diálogo intercultural entre profissionais de saúde dos cuidados primários e utentes de diferentes origens socioculturais. Enformado por uma metodologia mista, o estudo visa promover a resiliência comunitária e reforçar a justiça cognitiva. Os autores defendem que apenas através de metodologias sensíveis à diversidade cultural será possível contribuir para políticas públicas integrativas e sistemas de saúde mais preparados para responder aos impactos das alterações climáticas.