Effectiveness of Climate Change Awareness Education in Secondary School Students

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a climate change awareness education program on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among secondary school students. The study was conducted as a cluster randomized controlled trial in a public secondary school in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Climate Change Awareness Adherence Interventions Behavior Environmental Attitudes Environmental Health Education Health Behavior Health Education Medication Adherence Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Compliance Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

12 year–13 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul Medeniyet University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This completed cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of a climate change awareness education program on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among seventh-grade secondary school students. The study was conducted in a public secondary school in Istanbul, Türkiye. Two classrooms were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a structured, multi-component education program including classroom-based educational sessions, visual reminder posters, interactive quizzes, and eco-friendly reinforcement materials. The control group continued routine education during the data collection period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and two weeks after completion of the intervention. After post-test measurements, the education program was also provided to the control group.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Being enrolled in the seventh grade of the secondary school where the study was conducted
Being able to speak and understand Turkish
Having written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian
Being willing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

Having a physical or cognitive impairment that prevents communication, watching the educational materials, or completing the measurement tools
Having long-term absenteeism that would prevent regular participation in the education sessions during the study period
Not having written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian
Not being willing to participate in the study

Treatment and study plan

Climate Change Awareness Education Program

Behavioral

The intervention consisted of a structured, multi-component climate change awareness education program developed for seventh-grade secondary school students. The program included classroom-based educational sessions, visual reminder posters, interactive quizzes, and eco-friendly reinforcement materials such as pencils, cloth bags, and flower seeds. Educational topics included the definition and causes of climate change, the difference between weather and climate, the greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, environmental and human impacts of climate change, climate change effects in Türkiye, zero waste, carbon footprint, water and energy conservation, recycling, and individual actions to combat climate change.

Primary outcomes

Change in Climate Change Awareness Score

Time frame: Baseline and two weeks after completion of the intervention

Students' climate change awareness was assessed using the Climate Change Awareness Scale for Secondary School Students. The scale consists of 16 items and two subdimensions: cognitive awareness and behavioral awareness. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 16 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher climate change awareness.
Change in Environmental Attitude Score

Time frame: Baseline and two weeks after completion of the intervention

Students' environmental attitudes were assessed using the Environmental Attitude Scale for Secondary School Students. The scale consists of two subscales. The first subscale includes 14 items measuring environmental behaviors, and the second subscale includes 21 items measuring environmental feelings, thoughts, and willingness to act. The total score ranges from 35 to 175, with higher scores indicating more positive environmental attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Medeniyet University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Climate Change Awareness Education on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Secondary School Students: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jun 17, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed