Shannon Vandenberg, Tracy Oosterbroek, Andrea Chircop, Peter Kellett

A Cross-Sectional Study on Indigenous Nurses’ Knowledge and Perceptions toward Planetary Health Challenges

Introduction

A cross-sectional study on indigenous nurses’ knowledge and perceptions toward planetary health challenges. Indigenous nurses demonstrate enhanced knowledge of planetary health & climate challenges. Their wisdom is key to decolonizing nursing for a climate-resilient future.

Abstract

Background: Planetary health challenges—such as climate change and vector-borne diseases—not only threaten human health, but also jeopardize food and water security, ecosystems, economic stability, and social well-being. Registered nurses play an integral role in supporting populations affected by planetary health challenges. Purpose: The purpose of the larger cross-sectional study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered nurses in Canada related to climate sensitive vector-borne diseases. This manuscript presents findings of the Indigenous participants from the larger study. Methods: A national self-administered digital survey was distributed to practicing registered nurses in Canada. Results: Of the 382 survey respondents, 35 respondents declared as Indigenous, Metis, or Inuit. Results indicated that most worked as frontline care providers, and several were nurse educators. Study findings revealed enhanced knowledge of climate change and vector-borne diseases, as well as increased awareness of, confidence toward, preparedness, and experiences with vector-borne diseases in practice demonstrated by Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit participants. The greater knowledge and confidence of Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit nurses toward climate change and vector-borne diseases may be attributed to intergenerational knowledge transfer, which has provided them with the knowledge to observe and adapt to climate-related concerns, such as the changing vector landscape. Conclusion: Indigenous nurses are well-positioned to lead the nursing profession to a decolonization of nursing knowledge, where Indigenous knowledge is used to educate and prepare nurses to address planetary challenges in practice and assume a greater role in leading change to advocate for a climate-resilient future.

Review

This manuscript presents a timely and crucial exploration into Indigenous nurses' knowledge and perceptions regarding planetary health challenges, an area of increasing global concern. The study’s focus on the experiences and insights of Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit nurses is particularly commendable, as it addresses a significant gap in the literature and highlights the invaluable role of intergenerational Indigenous knowledge in understanding and adapting to climate-related issues. The findings, indicating enhanced knowledge, awareness, confidence, and preparedness among Indigenous participants concerning climate change and vector-borne diseases, offer compelling preliminary evidence for the distinct contributions Indigenous perspectives can bring to nursing education and practice. The foundational premise, that Indigenous nurses are uniquely positioned to lead a decolonization of nursing knowledge, is a powerful and necessary call to action. While the study offers important initial insights, certain methodological aspects and limitations warrant consideration. The primary concern is the relatively small sample size of Indigenous participants (n=35) drawn from a larger survey. While understandable given the population, this significantly limits the generalizability of the findings and the strength of the conclusions drawn, particularly the ambitious assertion that this group is "well-positioned to lead the nursing profession to a decolonization of nursing knowledge." Furthermore, a self-administered digital survey, while efficient, may introduce selection bias and might not fully capture the nuanced complexities of intergenerational knowledge transfer and practice. The abstract also broadly mentions "knowledge, attitudes, and practices" in the purpose, yet the results primarily detail knowledge, awareness, and confidence, with less explicit detail on observed practices or attitudes. Despite these limitations, the paper makes a valuable contribution by initiating a critical conversation around Indigenous knowledge systems and their integral role in planetary health nursing. It powerfully underscores the need for respectful integration of Indigenous ways of knowing into mainstream nursing education and practice to build climate resilience. Future research should endeavor to expand upon these preliminary findings through larger, more representative samples of Indigenous nurses, potentially employing mixed-methods approaches that combine quantitative data with qualitative depth to fully elucidate the mechanisms of intergenerational knowledge transfer and its application in clinical settings. This study serves as an essential stepping stone, advocating for a paradigm shift in how nursing addresses planetary health, recognizing the profound wisdom embedded within Indigenous communities.

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