Heat Adaptation Through Community-based Approaches and Research at SEACO: Structural and Behavioural Interventions (Heat Care)

NCT ID: NCT06744309

Last Updated: 2024-12-20

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1000 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-01-31

Study Completion Date

2027-07-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if structural and behavioral interventions can mitigate the health effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. The study focuses on implementing cool roofs (a passive cooling system) and heat literacy education to improve heat adaptation behaviors. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does the implementation of cool roofs reduce indoor temperatures and related heat stress in rural households?
* Does heat literacy education improve community awareness and behaviors related to coping with extreme heat?

Researchers will compare four groups: one receiving both cool roofs and heat literacy interventions, one receiving only the cool roof intervention, one receiving only heat literacy education, and a control group receiving neither intervention. Participants will be asked to:

* Have their roofs painted with UV-resistant white paint (for cool roof intervention groups).
* Participate in educational sessions and training on heat-related health risks and coping strategies (for heat literacy intervention groups).
* Complete baseline and follow-up surveys at 3, 6, and 12 months.
* Wear a Garmin Vivosmart 5 sensor for two weeks during each data collection period to monitor heart rate, physical activity, and sleep patterns.

Detailed Description

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The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of structural and behavioral interventions in mitigating the health impacts of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. Specifically, the study will implement and assess two interventions: cool roofs (a passive cooling system) and heat literacy education. Cool roofs involve painting the roofs of selected households with UV-resistant white paint to reduce thermal absorption, thereby lowering indoor temperatures. Heat literacy education aims to enhance community awareness and preparedness for extreme heat by providing training and educational materials on recognizing heat-related illnesses and adopting personal cooling strategies.

Participants will be randomly selected from the SEACO health database, encompassing five operational sub-districts. Eligible participants include adults aged 18 years and above, living in single-story houses with suitable roofing materials. They will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: one receiving both interventions, one receiving only the cool roof intervention, one receiving only heat literacy education, and a control group receiving neither intervention. This 2 x 2 factorial design will allow researchers to compare the effects of each intervention individually and in combination.

Data collection will occur at baseline and three follow ups, intended to do 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. SEACO data collectors will visit participants' homes to install SwitchBot heat and humidity measurement devices, conduct surveys, and take physical measurements. Participants will also wear Garmin Vivosmart 5 sensors for two weeks during each data collection period to monitor their heart rate, physical activity, and sleep patterns. We will also conduct the basic measurements such as height, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose and HbA1c. The surveys will gather information on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, self-reported illnesses, heat exposure, heat adaptation behaviors, heat literacy, cooling strategies, self- reported sleep quality, mental health and quality of life.

The study aims to determine whether cool roofs and heat literacy education can effectively reduce indoor temperatures, improve heat adaptation behaviors, and ultimately mitigate the health risks associated with extreme heat. By analyzing data from both interventions and their combined effect, the research seeks to develop a theoretically informed, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive community-based heat adaptation program for rural Malaysia. This program could serve as a model for other climate-vulnerable regions, providing valuable insights into sustainable and practical approaches to addressing the health impacts of climate change.

Conditions

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Climate Change Heat; Weather Heat Effect Heat; Excess

Keywords

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heat health heat literacy thermotolerance Rising average temperature

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

The study uses a 2 x 2 factorial design to evaluate the effectiveness of cool roofs and heat literacy education in mitigating extreme heat impacts in rural Malaysian communities. Participants, randomly selected from the SEACO database, will be divided into four groups: both interventions, cool roof only, heat literacy only, and control. Cool roofs involve painting roofs with UV-resistant white paint to reduce heat absorption, while heat literacy includes 8-12 weeks of education on heat awareness and personal cooling strategies. Data will be collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months through surveys, physical measurements, and Garmin Vivosmart 5 wearable sensor and SwitchBot meter. The primary endpoints are indoor temperature, physical activity (step count), glycemic control (HbA1c) and sleep duration. The study aims to develop an evidence-based, culturally sensitive community heat adaptation program to improve heat resilience in rural Malaysia.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

No, the study does not involve masking (blinding). Due to the nature of the interventions-cool roof installation and heat literacy education-it is not possible to blind the participants or the field team members (including researchers). However, the random selection and assignment of participants to intervention and control groups will be conducted by a statistician who is not part of the research team, ensuring an unbiased allocation process.

Study Groups

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Group A (Cool Roof and Heat Literacy Interventions)

Cool roof intervention: Roofs will be painted with UV-resistant paint to reduce thermal absorption.

Heat literacy intervention: Participants will receive education and training on heat-related health risks and coping strategies.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Heat Literacy Intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The behavioral intervention aims to improve heat literacy among participants through an 8-12 week education and training program. It includes three main modules: enhancing community awareness of hot weather, recognizing and responding to heat-related illnesses, and teaching personal cooling strategies. Participants will use SwitchBot meters to monitor indoor temperature and humidity, access real-time weather information, and learn about heat wave warnings. They will receive educational materials, including infographics, videos, and one-to-one training from field staff. The content of intervention and delivery methods will be refined through co-design workshops with stakeholders and community members to ensure they are practical and culturally appropriate. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from extreme heat, resulting in better heat adaptation behaviors and improved health outcomes.

Structural (Cool Roof) Intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

The structural intervention in this study involves implementing cool roofs to reduce indoor temperature and mitigate the effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. Selected households will have their roofs painted with UV-resistant paint, which reflects direct sunlight and reduces thermal absorption. This intervention aims to decrease the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof, thereby lowering indoor temperature and reducing the physiological heat strain on residents. By maintaining cooler indoor environment, the cool roof intervention seeks to alleviate the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperature.

Group B (Cool Roof Intervention Only)

Cool Roof intervention: Roofs will be painted with UV-resistant white paint to reduce thermal absorption

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Structural (Cool Roof) Intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

The structural intervention in this study involves implementing cool roofs to reduce indoor temperature and mitigate the effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. Selected households will have their roofs painted with UV-resistant paint, which reflects direct sunlight and reduces thermal absorption. This intervention aims to decrease the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof, thereby lowering indoor temperature and reducing the physiological heat strain on residents. By maintaining cooler indoor environment, the cool roof intervention seeks to alleviate the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperature.

Group C (Heat Literacy Intervention Only)

-Heat literacy intervention: Participants will receive education and training on heat-related health risks and coping strategies.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Heat Literacy Intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The behavioral intervention aims to improve heat literacy among participants through an 8-12 week education and training program. It includes three main modules: enhancing community awareness of hot weather, recognizing and responding to heat-related illnesses, and teaching personal cooling strategies. Participants will use SwitchBot meters to monitor indoor temperature and humidity, access real-time weather information, and learn about heat wave warnings. They will receive educational materials, including infographics, videos, and one-to-one training from field staff. The content of intervention and delivery methods will be refined through co-design workshops with stakeholders and community members to ensure they are practical and culturally appropriate. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from extreme heat, resulting in better heat adaptation behaviors and improved health outcomes.

Group D (Control Group)

No intervention will be provided, serving as a control group for comparison.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Heat Literacy Intervention

The behavioral intervention aims to improve heat literacy among participants through an 8-12 week education and training program. It includes three main modules: enhancing community awareness of hot weather, recognizing and responding to heat-related illnesses, and teaching personal cooling strategies. Participants will use SwitchBot meters to monitor indoor temperature and humidity, access real-time weather information, and learn about heat wave warnings. They will receive educational materials, including infographics, videos, and one-to-one training from field staff. The content of intervention and delivery methods will be refined through co-design workshops with stakeholders and community members to ensure they are practical and culturally appropriate. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from extreme heat, resulting in better heat adaptation behaviors and improved health outcomes.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Structural (Cool Roof) Intervention

The structural intervention in this study involves implementing cool roofs to reduce indoor temperature and mitigate the effects of extreme heat in rural Malaysian communities. Selected households will have their roofs painted with UV-resistant paint, which reflects direct sunlight and reduces thermal absorption. This intervention aims to decrease the amount of solar energy absorbed by the roof, thereby lowering indoor temperature and reducing the physiological heat strain on residents. By maintaining cooler indoor environment, the cool roof intervention seeks to alleviate the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperature.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults aged at least 18 years old
* Willing to participate in all study components
* Consent to roof painting and installation of heat and humidity measurement devices
* Consent to wear the supplied wearables (Garmin Vivosmart 5) for data collection
* No plans to relocate during the study period
* Possess a smartphone for receiving health education materials


* Single-story house
* Main house measurement less than 1200 sqft
* Built with brick or brick and wooden
* Roof made of zinc, ceramic/clay, or mixed, suitable for cool roof painting
* Minimal to no requirement for roof repair
* No plans for renovation during the study period

Exclusion Criteria

* Individuals belonging to one household with existing participants
* Bedridden individuals or those requiring assistance in movement


* Double-story houses, shops, or empty houses
* Houses with the facility to sprinkle water on the roof
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Monash University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Heidelberg University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ministry of Health, Malaysia

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Monash University Malaysia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Tin Tin Su

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Tin Tin Su, MBBS, Dr.Med

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Monash University Malaysia

Locations

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South East Asia Community Observatory, Monash University Malaysia

Segamat, Johor, Malaysia

Site Status

Countries

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Malaysia

Central Contacts

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Pei Jean Tan, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +603 5514 6374

Email: [email protected]

Nurul Syazwana Binti Dali, BSc

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +60127674277

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Mohd Azrizan Bin Bakir, MBBCh

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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MUHREC43232

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id