Addressing health inequity with the Teach Clean Air project
Anna shares about her work at Teach Clean Air (formerly the Clean Air Campaign), a project founded by Just Love Network members to tackle the injustices caused by the effects of air pollution...
It’s been a busy few months in the Clean Air Campaign - not least that we’ve rebranded to Teach Clean Air!
Teach Clean Air exists to ensure every doctor in the UK is educated on the health impacts of air pollution and empowered to discuss the topic with patients. Our interactive teaching resource highlights what air pollution is, its impacts on human health and the responsibility doctors have in educating and advising patients.
Following Just Love’s National Gathering in Birmingham last year, I have started working with the Teach Clean Air Just Love project. We had our first pilot session using the teaching resource in a hospital in December and last month I had the opportunity to share the teaching with 15 of my foundation doctor colleagues!
Air pollution has traditionally been linked to the development and exacerbation of respiratory diseases but more recently we are understanding much wider impacts on health including in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and maternal health. Those living with chronic conditions or at the extremes of age are more vulnerable. Additionally, those living in areas of deprivation tend to be exposed to higher levels of indoor and outdoor air pollution because these communities are more likely to be near to busy roads, industrial sites and have poorer quality housing.
The effect of air pollution on health is an area of injustice and health inequity as it results in unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes, therefore it is relevant for all doctors to understand. However, most doctors receive no teaching on air pollution as part of their medical training. Without awareness and education, doctors are not empowered to advocate for their patients on an individual or societal scale.
God calls us to advocate for the vulnerable to see his kingdom come on earth, seeking his justice through all aspects of our everyday lives - including our employment. This resource is a way to help doctors do just that.
We highlight to healthcare professionals simple changes that individuals can make to reduce their production and exposure to air pollution, as well as highlighting that the responsibility lies with major polluters and we need to collectively advocate for better air quality and a reduction in air pollution. We want to see doctors respond by advising individual patients on how to improve their individual health and wellbeing in the face of air pollution, and advocating for wider system change.
I live and work in south Cumbria and shared the teaching at Furness General Hospital. This was part of the teaching programme organised to support doctors in training. People engaged well with the teaching resource, participating on Menti and asking relevant questions to generate further relevant discussion.
The key results from pre and post session feedback from both pilots include:
Only 18% of doctors get teaching on air pollution at medical school - so it confirmed that there is a real need for teaching!
The teaching increased knowledge of where to access resources on air quality from 23% to 100%.
Confidence in discussing air pollution with patients went from 1.77 to 3.44 on a 1-5 scale.
Overwhelmingly (>85%) ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the session was useful, interesting and had the right goals.
Following the session in Barrow, a number of doctors expressed interest in becoming clean air champions, people keen to take this teaching to other hospitals, and together we are hoping to organise an event to mark Clean Air Day on 19th June 2025 – watch this space!
Teach Clean Air is an exciting and innovative project to be part of. It is encouraging that so many newly qualified doctors are engaged and recognise issues of health inequity and want to see effective change!
As we look to grow and share this teaching more widely, develop a website and social media profiles there is an opportunity to find out more about Teach Clean Air and get involved – there is an open call on the 30th April. Get in touch to find out more!
Join the Open Call on the 30th of April to find out more about the Clean Air Teaching Resource, and how you can help Anna and the team at Teach Clean Air roll it out in hospitals & healthcare settings across the UK.
Sign up through the link below.