Abstract
This study explores the concerns, needs, and expectations of inpatients with the goal to develop a patient-centered climate change adaptation agenda for hospitals. Statements of patients from geriatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, and surgery (N = 25) of a German tertiary care hospital were analyzed using semi-structured interviews and the framework method. Areas of future adaptation were elaborated in joint discussions with transdisciplinary experts. Concerns included the foresight of severe health problems. The requested adaptations comprised the change to a patient-centered care, infrastructural improvements including air conditioning, and adjustments of the workflows. Guidelines for the behavior of patients and medical services appropriate for the climatic conditions were demanded. The patient-centered agenda for adaptation includes the steps of partnering with patients, reinforcing heat mitigation, better education for patients and medical staff, and adjusting work processes. This is the first study demonstrating that hospital patients are gravely concerned and expect adjustments according to climate change. Since heat is seen as a major risk by interviewees, the fast implementation of published recommendations is crucial. By synthesizing inpatients’ expectations with scientific recommendations, we encourage patient-centered climate change adaptation. This can be the start for further collaboration with patients to create climate change resilient hospitals.
Highlights
IntroductionThe global trend of a warming climate continued in recent years [1]
Morbidity and eventually mortality are expected to rise for many vulnerable groups as a consequence of more extreme climatic conditions [4,5]
Patient views on the problems and risks posed by extreme climatic conditions correspond to the priorities identified by science and stress heat as a major risk
Summary
The global trend of a warming climate continued in recent years [1]. The development toward hotter and more extreme weather poses health risks for the human population at large [2] as the relationship between hotter weather, adverse health effects, and hospital admissions is well established [3]. Morbidity and eventually mortality are expected to rise for many vulnerable groups as a consequence of more extreme climatic conditions [4,5]. Loosemore and colleagues describe extreme weather effects such as flooding, storm damages, power outages, or interruption of IT services and water supply on hospitals
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