Co-design and evaluation of an audio podcast about sustainable development goals for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in Northern Ireland

Background: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universally recognized targets designed to combat poverty, inequality, and climate change. However, there exists limited awareness and understanding of these goals among nursing and midwifery students. To address this knowledge gap, a co-designed audio podcast was introduced as an educational tool to enhance students' comprehension of SDGs and their relevance to the healthcare profession.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Queen's University Belfast, involving 566 first-year nursing and midwifery students. A 60-minute SDG podcast, co-designed with students and stakeholders, was made accessible within the university's learning management system. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were administered to assess changes in students' knowledge levels and attitudes toward SDGs. Additionally, 37 participants engaged in focus group interviews six months after listening to the podcast to explore their experiences and reflections. Quantitative data was analysed using paired t-tests and descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was analysed thematically.

Results: The podcast significantly increased students' awareness of SDGs and their understanding of the goals' relevance to their profession and personal lives. Post-test scores showed substantial improvements across all three sub-scales: knowledge, professional relevance, and personal relevance. Moreover, participants rated the podcast as a valuable learning resource with high acceptability, although some expressed uncertainty about replay intentions. Focus group interviews revealed distinct themes related to knowledge enrichment, perceptions of relevance, behavioural intentions, pedagogical effectiveness, impact on attitudes, barriers and challenges, long-term impact, and recommendations for improvement.

Discussion: This study demonstrates the potential of audio podcasts as an effective and engaging tool for increasing awareness and understanding of SDGs among nursing and midwifery students. The results suggest that such interventions can positively impact students' knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intentions regarding the SDGs. The findings also emphasize the importance of co-design in developing educational resources tailored to the specific needs and preferences of students. This research contributes to the broader discourse on integrating SDG education into healthcare curricula and offers valuable insights for future educational interventions. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and generalizability of this approach and to enhance the pedagogical effectiveness of such podcasts.