Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Critical Care, cilt.94, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Purpose As the global climate crisis accelerates, reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare systems has become imperative. Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are among the most carbon-intensive hospital settings, yet data from upper-middle-income countries remain limited. This national survey aimed to evaluate self-reported awareness, current practices, perceived barriers, and educational needs related to environmental sustainability within the Green ICU framework among ICU physicians in Turkey. Methods A nationwide, cross-sectional online survey was conducted between 15 May and 15 October 2025 among adult ICU physicians in Turkey. The 30-item questionnaire, developed based on current literature, assessed demographics, self-reported awareness of the Green ICU concept, institutional sustainability practices, perceived barriers, and future priorities. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to analyze associations between self-reported awareness and demographic and professional characteristics. Results A total of 325 physicians participated; 57.2% were female and 84.3% worked in university or training hospitals. Only 12.3% reported high self-reported awareness of the Green ICU concept, 1.8% had received formal training, and 89.7% expressed willingness to receive education. Structured Green ICU practices were reported by only 3.7% of respondents. Waste management was perceived as the most commonly implemented practice (92.9%), whereas energy-efficiency technologies were reported by 14.5% of respondents. The largest importance–implementation gaps were observed for energy-efficient devices, staff training, and eco-friendly cleaning products. Major perceived barriers included insufficient knowledge and training (84.3%), lack of staff support (60.6%), high costs (58.5%), and inadequate technological infrastructure (51.1%). Higher self-reported awareness was associated with older age, longer ICU experience, higher professional role, and institution type (all p ' 0.01). Conclusions Despite strong motivation among ICU physicians, Green ICU practices remain limited, reflecting educational, institutional, and infrastructural barriers. Expanding national coordination, strengthening institutional sustainability strategies, and implementing structured training programs may be important for narrowing the implementation gap and integrating environmental sustainability as a core component of high-quality intensive care.