Assessing the Effectiveness of Heat Adaptation Digital Messages From Primary Care Providers to Their Patients on the Change in Behaviour for Heatwave-related Preparedness
Heat Smart: Empowering Primary Care Providers to Safeguard Vulnerable Populations Against Extreme Heat
Hopital Montfort
20,000 participants
Apr 1, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Extreme heat events pose a significant health threat in Canada, as demonstrated by the 2021 heat wave that claimed over 600 lives in Western Canada. Most heat-related deaths occur indoors and are preventable. Primary care providers (PCPs), who serve 88% of Canadians, are uniquely positioned to identify and support at-risk individuals. Heat Smart, in alignment with Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS), aims to bridge the gap between primary care and public health to enhance community resilience and reduce health inequities related to extreme heat events. This randomized control trial in Eastern Ontario will examine whether patients receiving tailored digital health messages from their family physician or nurse practitioner change their behaviour to protect themselves from extreme heat-related illness. The Heat Smart study will: * Assess risk: Analyze electronic medical records and patient surveys to identify vulnerable individuals. * Deliver tailored messages: Send personalized digital guidance via e-mail or text, offering heat safety advice and local resource information in English and French. * Issue early warning alerts: Notify at-risk patients of upcoming heat events, prompting action. * Evaluate impact: Use surveys and health data to measure effectiveness in reducing heat-related health impacts. Short-term outcomes include increased awareness and preparedness among patients about heat-related health risks. Long-term goals involve scaling the intervention across Canada to reduce heat-related illnesses, enhance social connectedness, and decrease healthcare utilization.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria16
- Primary Care Patients:
- Adults (18 years and older)
- Patients must be registered with a participating PCP.
- They must have had at least one visit with their PCP in the past two years to ensure active engagement.
- Participants must have an active email, cell phone or messaging service (SMS) to receive Heat Smart digital messages.
- Patients must be able to understand and consent to participate in the study.
- Patients must be able to communicate in at least one of the official languages (English, French).
- Participants will be recruited from PCP located in two Eastern Ontario public health districts: the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and Ottawa Public Health (including urban, rural, and Indigenous communities such as Akwesasne).
- Primary Care Providers:
- Must be a licensed Family Physician (FP) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in a practice of at least 2 PCPS.
- The providers must be offering comprehensive primary care to a panel of patients (not solely urgent care or walk-in services).
- Must work in a computerized primary care clinic with an electronic medical record system.
- Must expect to remain in practice for at least 24 months.
- Must be located in Eastern Ontario.
- Must be willing to use the Canadian Primary Care Information Network (CPIN) to deliver Heat Smart messages and surveys.
- Must be using Cliniconex or Qualtrics as a practice tool for communication enabling outreach before the patients are invited to consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria1
- Patients who do not read French or English will be excluded from the study as they will not be able to give informed consent or to fill out the surveys. Patients who do not have an email address or text messaging service will be excluded for the same reason. Minors, patients with dementia and people who cannot read and write in English or French will not be eligible because the automated approach to surveying patients makes it impractical to properly obtain their consent.
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Interventions
Digital messages to equip and prepare patients for extreme heat events. The first message will to encourage patients to prepare by creating a heat safety plan, and to form Check-in Companion groups among friends, neighbours, and relatives as well as to connect patients with existing key infrastructure that can be vital during heat events (ex: cooling stations and public facilities with air conditioning). When a heat-advisory is announced, additional messages will be sent to alert patients in the Treated group to activate their heat safety plans.
Digital health promotion messages not related to heatwaves
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07024628