title: Health, sustainability and student travel.
abstract: A survey of 246 pre-registration nursing students in a University in the South West of England was carried out to explore the impact of course related travel on the student experience. Results from the survey indicated that students' main mode of transport to practice placements was by car which reflects the rural nature of the South West and the relative paucity of public transport. Long distances that many students travel to their study centre and to placements, and the concurrent financial strain that this creates, impacted negatively on the student experience. Students recognised the need to travel to a place of study and clinical placements and suggestions of minimising the negative impact of travel were offered. These included the increased use of electronic delivery of lectures, attendance at local university premises, the provision of shared transport to placements and placements closer to the student's home. Few students, however, considered the environmental impact of travel. Higher Education Institutions need to address issues of sustainability through promoting student wellbeing and taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore important that student awareness of sustainability related issues is increased as well as focusing on reducing the environmental impact through organisational change.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Room 204, 7 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. gill.green@plymouth.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058572:Carbon Footprint / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014186:Transportation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data