Nepal is home to Mount Everest and is known for its beautiful landscape and culture. But many of the people in this mountainous area face an unexpected health challenge: poor air quality. Among those most affected are brick workers who labor in hazardous conditions. In direct response to this health challenge, teams from several colleges at BYU observe the brick workers and gather data to assess their respiratory health.
The efforts are led in part by Dr. Neil Peterson (BS ’07) from BYU College of Nursing, as well as faculty from the Departments of Civil and Construction Engineering; Cell Biology and Physiology; Public Health; and Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science. The project seeks to gather essential data that will inform the development of a sustainable intervention to improve the health and well-being of brick workers in Nepal. The researchers also hope that their findings will be helpful in addressing air pollution concerns in the United States.
Dr. Peterson outlines his responsibilities during the two trips to Nepal in March 2023 and March 2024, which included overseeing blood draws, collecting saliva samples, and using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) technology to perform lung ultrasounds. These procedures were conducted by students from the nursing program as part of the university’s interdisciplinary effort. The second trip aimed to double the previous sample size, providing a clearer picture of the health challenges faced by the brick workers and determining potential future interventions.
“We are getting an inside look at the lungs rather than just measuring the function itself,” says Laura Butler, a graduate student who completed the BYU Family Nurse Practitioner Program in June 2024. “It’s taking a closer look at the actual lungs themselves, and we can use that to make improvements to help these workers.”
One student who participated in both trips is Alex Black, who received his bachelor’s degree in nursing in April 2024. On the first trip, Alex primarily conducted blood draws. But during the second trip, he also performed ultrasounds and learned to use the associated equipment. “It has sparked my interest in learning more about diagnostic tools and maybe even about research itself,” he says. “I didn’t really understand much about ultrasounds beforehand, and it’s been helpful to be mentored by Laura and Dr. Peterson in how to look at them and figure out whether it’s significant in our findings.”
Alex’s comment highlights the unique benefits of experiential learning and mentoring. Students enjoyed three weeks of hands-on practice with direct input from Ms. Butler and Dr. Peterson. Claire Collett, who graduated from BYU College of Nursing in December 2023 and participated in the second trip, shares similar thoughts. “Dr. Peterson has been so helpful, teaching me new practical skills that I can use in my job going forward,” she says. “It has been great being mentored by Laura as well because she is closer to my position and more like a peer mentor. It has been really motivating to learn the skills that they both have.”
Another important aspect of experiential learning is the cultural benefit gained from spending time with and caring for others. Students admire several attributes of the Nepali people and express a desire to develop those attributes themselves. They describe the Nepali people as cheerful, hardworking, humble, and grateful. “There are so many things I admire about the culture, the first one being how hard they work and how happy they are to do it,” Ms. Collett says. Ms. Butler adds, “They are so happy to meet new people, and so comfortable to share and give. They work very hard and do what it takes to provide for themselves and their families.”
These sentiments were consistently noted by the other students on the trips. Alex reflects, “They are always smiling and talking with each other and connecting, and it is contagious. That is something I want to take with me, so that when I am around people at hard points in their lives, I can take that joy, spread it to them, and hope it catches.”
Jacob Luddington, a BYU alum and medical student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, contributed to the nursing team’s work in gathering samples and data. Mr. Luddington, like the others, was met with a loving and friendly atmosphere in Nepal and expresses his gratitude for the Nepali people. “They make everybody feel like they’re not a stranger,” he says. “You talk with anyone, and they ask you about your life and family—there is really nothing they are afraid to ask about, and you feel like a friend.”
Each student built human connections while caring for the local people and gained practical experience from the project they helped create. Discussing the impact of their work as part of a larger team, Dr. Peterson says, “The most important part is: now what are we going to do about it, and how can we help these people?”
Those involved in the project developed both medical and interpersonal skills that will help them to care for future patients with greater competence and concern. BYU College of Nursing’s groundbreaking efforts in assessing the respiratory health of brick workers in Nepal have provided invaluable insights and fostered significant interdisciplinary collaboration. The project’s success not only underscores the critical importance of addressing environmental health issues but also highlights the profound impact of experiential learning and cultural exchange in the professional and personal development of students.
“BYU does such a great job giving students experiential learning opportunities, which I’m so grateful for,” says Ms. Collett. Ms. Butler adds, “It’s been really cool to see how people from so many different disciplines can work together in one cohesive unit.” She continues, “Being a part of this project shows that there is a lot of good we can do in the world and in our own communities if we think outside the box and find ways to use our skills to benefit others.”
These skills can be used anywhere. Alex says, “Whether you work at a hospital or a clinic, it’s important to think of the long-term goals of helping people to live overall healthier lives.” He continues, “It has been fun to see how all of us are coming together to work as a team and put together this puzzle of health problems. It is important that we are sharing our data to see what the problem to be solved here really is.”
The combined expertise and dedication of students and faculty across various disciplines promise to drive impactful changes for the brick workers in Nepal. Data collected from the study will serve as a foundation for developing sustainable interventions aimed at improving respiratory health and overall well-being. This collaborative approach not only enhances the academic and professional growth of the participants but also paves the way for future initiatives that can make a meaningful difference in global health.