Evaluating the effectiveness of heat warning systems: systematic review of epidemiological evidence

Toloo, Ghasem Sam; FitzGerald, Gerry; Aitken, Peter; Verrall, Kenneth; Tong, Shilu

doi:10.1007/s00038-013-0465-2

Cited by 135 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Reflecting the tradition of systematic reviews in the health sciences, health-related adaptation was the focus of six articles (Walker et al 2011;Hosking and Campbell-Lendrum 2012;Bouzid et al 2013;Cheng and Berry 2013;Poutiainen et al 2013;Toloo et al 2013). The most dominant adaptation focus within which systematic reviews have penetrated has been reviewing lessons from, and trends in, adaptation governance (Hardee and Mutunga 2010;Berrang-Ford et al 2011;Ford et al 2011;Pearce et al 2011;Ford et al 2012a, b;Larsen et al 2012;Murtinho and Hayes 2012;Biesbroek et al 2013;Kamau and Mwaura 2013;Vink et al 2013).…”

Section: Systematic Review For Adaptation Research: Challenges and Comentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consideration of context, processes, and mechanisms of causality may require more time commitment per document than extraction of key estimates or discrete items of information. Many realist or in-depth reviews, for example, are conducted using fewer than 50 articles, often 30-40 documents (Bouzid et al 2013;Cheng and Berry 2013;Kajan and Saarinen 2013;Linnenluecke et al 2013), and even in-depth qualitative systematic analyses with as few as 15-20 articles (Walker et al 2011;Toloo et al 2013). Research has shown that systematic review of complex and heterogeneous literature bases cannot rely solely on strict keyword searches (Greenhalgh and Peacock 2005), and this is likely to apply to many complex adaptation policy and practice questions.…”

Section: Literature and Information Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vink et al (2013), for example, frame their review of adaptation governance using theoretical constructs of knowledge and power, with their theoretical framework explicitly described in the methods section and results summarized around these concepts. The predominant theories guiding the literature we reviewed included adaptation and vulnerability theory (e.g., Ford et al 2012b), statistical theory in the case of meta-analyses (Bowler et al 2010;Shepard et al 2011) and public health (Walker et al 2011;Hosking and Campbell-Lendrum 2012;Bouzid et al 2013;Cheng and Berry 2013;Toloo et al 2013).…”

Section: Analyzing and Synthesizing Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This type of information, critical for adaptation policy, may only be distilled in realist understanding of the context behind divergent evidence and results. Toloo et al (2013), for example, investigate not only whether health warning systems (HWS) are effective in reducing heat-related health impacts associated with climate projections, but also what factors are critical in influencing the effectiveness of HWS. Biesbroek et al (2013) similarly adopt realist thinking by considering not only questions of 'if' and 'which' barriers to adaptation exist, but also 'how' and 'why' barriers emerge.…”

Section: Analyzing and Synthesizing Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research

2015

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Recent controversy has led to calls for increased standardization and transparency in the methods used to synthesize climate change research. Though these debates have focused largely on the biophysical dimensions of climate change, human dimensions research is equally in need of improved methodological approaches for research synthesis. Systematic review approaches, and more recently realist review methods, have been used within the health sciences for decades to guide research synthesis. Despite this, penetration of these approaches into the social and environmental sciences has been limited. Here, we present an analysis of approaches for systematic review and research synthesis and examine their applicability in an adaptation context. Customized review frameworks informed by systematic approaches to research synthesis provide a conceptually appropriate and practical opportunity for increasing methodological transparency and rigor in synthesizing and tracking adaptation research. This review highlights innovative applications of systematic approaches, with a focus on the unique challenges of integrating multiple data sources and formats in reviewing climate change adaptation policy and practice. We present guidelines, key considerations, and recommendations for systematic review in the social sciences in general and adaptation research in particular. We conclude by calling for increased conceptual and methodological development of systematic review approaches to address the methodological challenges of synthesizing and tracking adaptation to climate change.

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Section: Systematic Review For Adaptation Research: Challenges and Comentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature and Information Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analyzing and Synthesizing Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analyzing and Synthesizing Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research

2015

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“…These include, but are not limited to, early warning systems, hotlines providing heat-related health information, ensuring organizations working with vulnerable groups have protocols and plans in place to manage risks during a heatwave and providing outreach to homeless people. 2,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] These strategies support measures taken by individuals and communities to manage health impacts of heat such as drinking plenty of water, minimizing physical activity, checking on vulnerable family members or friends, spending time in cool spaces such as shopping centers or cinemas, planning activities so to avoid being outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, taking cool showers or baths, and keeping homes as cool as possible. 26 Moreover, local governments can target community-level intervention, including awareness campaigns reinforcing messages set out by state governments and NGOs, distribute health information in different languages and assist in the identification of local risks that can guide the development of local plans.…”

Section: Heatwave Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing health impacts of heat in South East Queensland, Australia

2014

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Heatwaves kill more people than any other natural hazard in Australia. Current literature on managing health risks of heatwaves highlights the importance of implementing urban planning measures, and engaging with vulnerable groups on a local level to better understand perceptions of risk and tailor health protection measures. This paper reviews arrangements to reduce heatwave health risks in South East Queensland in response to these themes. A literature search and document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and multi-stakeholder cross-sectoral workshops revealed that although heatwave management is not always considered by local government and disaster management stakeholders, many urban planning measures to minimize urban heat have been pursued. However, greater information from vulnerable groups is still needed to better inform heatwave management measures. IntroductionHeatwaves have been associated with increased morbidity, mortality and hospital admissions in many metropolitan regions globally, including the South East Queensland region (SEQ) in Australia.1-5 Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of heatwave events in SEQ, along with an increase in mean and maximum temperatures. 6,7 This could have critical implications for human settlements in the region as urban areas are especially sensitive to heatwave events because of the urban heat island effect (UHIE), 8,a thereby exacerbating heat exposure for urban residents. This paper contributes to inform multi-scale heatwave management efforts by focusing on the example of SEQ. It draws on the findings of the Human Settlements component of the South East Queensland Climate Adaptation Research Initiative (SEQ-CARI), a 3-year integrated multi-sectoral study of climate change adaptation options for human settlements in SEQ, including urban planning and management, coastal management, physical infrastructure, emergency management and human health. To this end, the paper is structured in 3 parts. The first part presents the SEQCARI research approach followed by a literature review on heatwave management broadly. The second part presents background information on SEQ and investigates cross-sectoral ambivalences to heatwave management and risks based on document analysis, literature review and empirical data derived from stakeholder workshops and interviews. The paper concludes by providing insights that can inform the development of heat management measures under a changing climate. Research ApproachThe Human Settlements component of SEQCARI aimed to explore and develop a range of appropriate adaptation strategies, policies and practices in each sector and across sectors, for better governance and management in response to the impacts of climate change. The research project was specifically directed to the SEQ region due to the earlier recognition of this region as one of 6 climate change 'vulnerability hotspots' in Australia. 10 The region is particularly vulnerable because of its coastal location and the distribution and location of its...

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Weather and children's time allocation

Nguyen

Connelly

2021

Health Economics

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This paper presents the first causal estimates of the effect of weather on children's time allocation. It exploits exogenous variations in local weather observed during the random diary dates of two nationally representative cohorts of Australian children whose time-use diaries were surveyed biennially over 10 years. Unfavorable weather conditions, as represented by cold or hot temperature or rain, cause children to switch activities from outdoors to indoors, mainly by reducing the time allocated to active pursuits and travel and increasing the time allocated to media. Furthermore, the effects of bad weather are more pronounced on weekends and for children with asthma. Our results also provide some evidence of adaptation, as temperature tends to have greater impact not only in winter months but also in colder regions. Our findings are robust to a wide range of sensitivity checks, including controlling for individual fixed effects and using alternative model specifications. Overall, the results suggest that extreme weather conditions may diminish children's health, development and long-term achievements through their effects on children's time allocation.

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Evaluating the effectiveness of heat warning systems: systematic review of epidemiological evidence

Abstract: Research in this area is limited. Prospective designs applying health behavior theories should establish whether HWS can produce the health benefits they are purported to achieve by identifying the target vulnerable groups.

Cited by 135 publications

References 64 publications

Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research

Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research

Managing health impacts of heat in South East Queensland, Australia

Weather and children's time allocation

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