Was macht eine gute hausärztliche Fortbildung zu Planetary Health aus? – Eine qualitative Studie

Introduction Climate change poses the greatest threat to the livelihoods and health of current and future generations. Its effects on general practice have already become evident, particularly in the areas of heat stress and new allergens. Continuing education courses aimed at general practitioners can both highlight opportunities for more climate-friendly work and adaptation to a changing disease spectrum and motivate transformative action regarding planetary health. The factors affecting the success of these continuing education courses are unclear. Methods 26 general practitioners were surveyed in a qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews. These were evaluated using a structured content analysis based on Mayring, and six subject areas with respective category systems were derived. Results The extent to which training content on planetary health motivates general practitioners to take transformative action depends on several factors. On the one hand, structural factors of training courses, such as a manageable time frame, appealing presentation of content, and opportunities for interaction, were identified as particularly relevant. On the other hand, content-related aspects proved to be particularly important for motivating participants. In addition to offering the greatest possible practical relevance, the discussion of individual factors such as self-efficacy, personal responsibility, and personal benefits was frequently mentioned. Discussion Our findings provide the foundation for designing continuing education programs for general practitioners on planetary health based on various influencing factors. Future research projects must clarify the extent to which participants with little intrinsic motivation for the topic can be motivated to implement measures related to planetary health. Conclusion Training courses designed to motivate transformative action in the context of planetary health should be practical and interactive, and they should strengthen participants’ self-efficacy.