NCT07024628 Assessing the Effectiveness of Heat Adaptation Digital Messages From Primary Care Providers to Their Patients on the Change in Behaviour for Heatwave-related Preparedness
| NCT ID | NCT07024628 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Hopital Montfort |
| Condition | Heathly Subjects |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 20,000 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-04-01 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-09 |
Trial Parameters
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
Brief 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 Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: The Heat Smart randomized controlled trial study will recruit patients and primary care providers (PCPs) from Eastern Ontario. The inclusion criteria ensure that the intervention reaches at-risk individuals while being scalable across different patient populations: 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 commu