Author/Authors :
Yazdanparast، Taraneh نويسنده Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD) Shahid Beheshti University of Med , , Salehpour، Sousan نويسنده Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD) Shahid Beheshti University of Med , , Masjedi، Mohammad-Reza نويسنده , , Seyedmehdi، Seyed Mohammad نويسنده Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center (CRDRC), Air Pollution, Health and Occupational Diseases Research Unit, National Research Institute of Tu , , Boyes، Eddie نويسنده Environmental Education Research Unit, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. Boyes, Eddie , Stanisstreet، Martin نويسنده Environmental Education Research Unit, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. Stanisstreet, Martin , Attarchi، Mirsaeed نويسنده Department of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Study of studentsʹ knowledge about global warming can help authorities to have better imagination of this critical environmental problem. This research examines high school studentsʹ ideas about greenhouse effect and the results may be useful for the respective authorities to improve cultural and educational aspects of next generation. In this cross-sectional study, a 42 question questionnaire with mix of open and closed questions was used to evaluate high school studentsʹ view about the mechanism, consequences, causes and cures of global warming. To assess studentsʹ knowledge, cognitive score was also calculated. 1035 students were randomly selected from 19 educational districts of Tehran. Sampling method was multi stage. Only 5.1% of the students could explain greenhouse effect correctly and completely. 88.8% and 71.2% respectively believed "if the greenhouse effect gets bigger the Earth will get hotter" and "incidence of more skin cancers is a consequence of global warming". 69.6% and 68.8% respectively thought "the greenhouse effect is made worse by too much carbon dioxide" and "presence of ozone holes is a cause of greenhouse effect". 68.4% believed "not using cars so much is a cure for global warming". While a studentʹs ʹcognitive scoreʹ could range from -36 to +36, Studentsʹ mean cognitive score was equal to +1.64. Mean cognitive score of male students and grade 2 & 3 students was respectively higher than female ones (P0.05). In general, studentsʹ knowledge about global warming was not acceptable and there were some misconceptions in the studentsʹ mind, such as supposing ozone holes as a cause and more skin cancer as a consequence of global warming. The Findings of this survey indicate that, this important stratum of society have been received no sufficient and efficient education and sensitization on this matter.
