Community-engaged sustainable health care education.

Abstract

Climate and ecological changes substantially impact human health. Sustainable health care education (SHE) teaches health professions students about the interdependence of ecosystems and human health, the health sector's impact on the environment, and sustainable solutions for both ecosystems and human health. Yet little is understood about the methods used to facilitate SHE learning within the local context. Community-engaged medical education (CEME), a concept used in medicine and other health professions, underscores the relationship between the community served and education, which is both interdependent and reciprocal. Our objective was to characterise how SHE could be made relevant to the local context and the health of the community. Qualitative content analysis was used to explore the perspectives of faculty members, community experts and health professions students on the relationship between SHE and CEME. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 participants between March 2016 and May 2017. Participants highlighted that it was vital for students to become familiar with real-world, locally relevant issues by collaborating with community members and identifying opportunities for engagement. For optimal learning, CEME experiences should be accompanied by relevant curricular changes. Educational partnerships with local organisations, societies and activists provide continuing opportunities for dialogue about, and integration of, SHE. The integration of SHE through CEME will draw the community voice into the curriculum and will compel students to connect CEME SHE learning to their continuing education. The credible and respected role of the health professionals and health professions institutions provide a foundation for the development of community partnerships and the promotion of SHE. The integration of SHE through CEME will draw the community voice into the curriculum and will compel students to connect CEME SHE learning to their continuing education.