Climate Change: A National Survey on Viewpoints of Italian Epilepsy-Care Professionals
Abstract
Objective: To assess awareness, attitudes, and preparedness among Italian epilepsy-care professionals regarding the impact of climate change on epilepsy management.
Methods: We conducted a national, anonymous Italian-language online survey distributed through professional networks and scientific societies (LICE, SNO). The questionnaire included Likert-scale items, closed-ended responses were summarized descriptively.
Results: We collected 167 responses from a heterogeneous sample by professional role and geographical area. All respondents acknowledged that global warming is occurring; 100% rated its impact on future generations as moderate-to-severe, and 84.3% reported moderate-to-severe concern for their patients. Support was high for continuing professional education on climate and health (99.4%), patient educational materials (88.6%), and workplace sustainability guidelines (97%). Individual mitigation actions were common (e.g., 93.3% reported recycling more frequently), whereas institutional initiatives were less consistently reported (e.g., 46.1% reported telemedicine use and 42.6% reported no transportation-related initiatives).
Conclusions: Italian epilepsy-care professionals demonstrate high awareness and concern regarding climate change and its impact on patients. While support for education and sustainability initiatives is strong, translation into institutional and research practices remains limited, highlighting the need for targeted policies and infrastructure.
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