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The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Microplastic Pollution Awareness and Environmental Literacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study
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A study of nursing students found that many hadn't even heard of microplastics before, yet those who knew more about environmental issues in general also tended to know more about microplastic pollution specifically. This matters because nurses often teach patients about health risks in their daily lives, so if future nurses aren't learning about microplastics (tiny plastic particles now found in our food, water, and even blood) in school, that's a missed opportunity to help the public understand and reduce their exposure.
AIM: This study aims to examine the relationship between microplastic pollution awareness and environmental literacy levels among undergraduate nursing students. DESIGN: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design. METHODS: This study included 356 undergraduate nursing students selected from each academic year using proportional stratified sampling. Data were collected between March and June 2023 using a demographic form, the Microplastic Pollution Awareness Scale, and the Environmental Literacy Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0, with descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation analyses. RESULTS: The mean microplastic pollution awareness score and environmental literacy score were 22.98 ± 4.85 and 85.21 ± 10.35, respectively. Participants who expressed willingness to receive environmental education and those who had previously heard of microplastics demonstrated higher mean scores for both microplastic pollution awareness and environmental literacy. A considerable proportion of participants reported not having previously heard of microplastics. Despite this, most nursing students (94.4%) exhibited high levels of environmental literacy. A positive correlation was found between microplastic pollution awareness and environmental literacy. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potential importance of environmental literacy in raising nursing students' awareness of microplastic pollution. The current curriculum has limited content on environmental health, and it is mostly covered in a short section of the public health nursing course. These findings suggest that integrating content on environmental literacy and microplastic pollution across all stages of the nursing curriculum, as well as in in-service training, may be beneficial. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Strengthening environmental literacy in nursing education may improve awareness of microplastic pollution and support nurses in promoting environmentally responsible behaviours and environmental health in clinical and community settings. IMPACT: This study addresses the limited evidence on microplastic pollution awareness among nursing students. The findings highlight the importance of environmental literacy in shaping awareness and can inform curriculum development and educational strategies targeting future nurses. REPORTING METHOD: This study was reported in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public involvement.
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